Performance plays a vital role in building and strengthening communities. It creates shared experiences, fosters connections, and celebrates cultural identity. Through performances, people come together, form bonds, and develop a sense of belonging.

Participatory performances take community building a step further. By involving community members in the creative process, these events address local issues, promote dialogue, and empower marginalized voices. Despite challenges, performance remains a powerful tool for uniting and empowering communities.

Performance for Community Building

Creating Shared Experiences and Memories

• Performance creates shared experiences and memories among participants and audiences, helping to establish a sense of connection and common identity
  • Attending a local theater production or music festival together can create lasting memories and inside jokes that bond community members
  • Participating in a community dance or ritual can foster a sense of shared history and tradition
• Participating in performances together, whether as performers or audience members, can generate feelings of unity, trust, and mutual support within a group
  • Singing in a community choir requires trust and cooperation among members, leading to a sense of belonging and support
  • Engaging in a group dance or drumming circle can create a feeling of synchronicity and unity among participants
• Attending performances together can serve as a social bonding activity, strengthening relationships and networks within a community
  • Organizing a group outing to a play or concert can provide opportunities for socializing and building friendships
  • Discussing and interpreting a performance together can lead to deeper conversations and connections among community members

Celebrating Community Identity and Culture

• Performances often celebrate or represent the unique culture, history, or values of a specific community, reinforcing a sense of pride and belonging among members
  • A Cinco de Mayo festival featuring traditional Mexican music and dance can celebrate and affirm the identity of a Latinx community
  • A play about the history of a small town can help residents feel connected to their shared past and values
• The collaborative nature of many performances, such as community theater or music ensembles, encourages cooperation, communication, and interdependence among participants
  • Putting on a community musical requires individuals to work together closely, fostering teamwork and a sense of shared accomplishment
  • Participating in a drum circle or improvisational theater game requires attentive listening and responsiveness to others, building trust and connection

Providing a Platform for Expression and Inclusion

• Performances can provide a platform for community members to express themselves, share their stories, and have their voices heard, leading to a sense of validation and inclusion
  • A community storytelling event can allow individuals to share personal narratives and experiences, fostering empathy and understanding
  • A youth poetry slam can provide a space for young people to express their identities and perspectives, leading to a sense of empowerment and belonging
• The process of creating a participatory performance can help build relationships, trust, and understanding among diverse community members who may not typically interact
  • Collaborating on a mural or public art installation can bring together individuals from different backgrounds and generations to work towards a common goal
  • Engaging in a theater workshop or improv class can break down social barriers and foster new connections among participants

Participatory Performance in Community Building

Involving Community Members in the Creative Process

• Participatory performances actively involve community members in the creative process, rather than positioning them solely as passive audience members
  • A community-devised theater piece incorporates the ideas, stories, and experiences of local residents into the script and production
  • A public art project invites community members to contribute their own designs, messages, or labor to the creation of a mural or sculpture
• Inviting community members to contribute their skills, ideas, and experiences to a performance can foster a sense of ownership and investment in the project
  • Soliciting feedback and suggestions from community members during the rehearsal process of a play can make them feel valued and invested in the final product
  • Incorporating community members' personal stories or artifacts into an exhibition can create a sense of shared authorship and pride

Addressing Relevant Issues and Promoting Dialogue

• Participatory performances often address issues or themes that are directly relevant to the community, encouraging dialogue, reflection, and collective problem-solving
  • A forum theater piece about gentrification can invite community members to intervene in the action and propose solutions, sparking conversations about local housing issues
  • A participatory public art project about climate change can encourage community members to reflect on their environmental impact and brainstorm ways to promote sustainability
• The shared responsibility and decision-making involved in participatory performances can promote a sense of collective efficacy and agency within a community
  • Inviting community members to help plan and organize a festival or parade can foster a sense of shared ownership and empowerment
  • Engaging community members in the budgeting and resource allocation process for a public art project can promote transparency and collective decision-making

Empowering Marginalized Voices and Promoting Equity

• Participatory performances can empower community members, particularly those from marginalized groups, by providing opportunities for self-expression and leadership
  • A theater workshop for individuals with disabilities can provide a space for them to share their experiences and take on leadership roles in the creative process
  • A participatory dance project in a low-income neighborhood can offer youth an opportunity to express themselves and develop new skills in a supportive environment
• Ensuring inclusive and equitable participation in performances can be challenging, particularly in diverse communities with varying levels of access, interest, and artistic experience
  • Providing free or low-cost tickets and transportation can help make performances more accessible to community members with limited financial resources
  • Offering multiple ways for community members to participate (e.g., as performers, designers, ushers, or audience members) can accommodate different levels of artistic experience and comfort

Challenges of Performance for Community Building

Resource Constraints and Sustainability

• Performance projects may face resource constraints, such as limited funding, space, or materials, which can hinder their scope and impact on community building
  • A lack of affordable rehearsal and performance venues can limit the frequency and scale of community theater productions
  • Insufficient funding for materials and stipends can make it difficult to sustain long-term participatory art projects
• The temporary or ephemeral nature of many performances can limit their long-term impact on community building, unless efforts are made to sustain engagement and relationships beyond the event itself
  • A one-time community music festival may generate short-term excitement and connection, but its effects may fade without ongoing programming or follow-up events
  • A participatory theater project may need to incorporate post-performance discussions, workshops, or action plans to translate its themes into sustained community dialogue and change

Navigating Sensitive Topics and Measuring Impact

• Performances that address sensitive or controversial issues may risk alienating or dividing community members, rather than fostering unity and understanding
  • A play about police brutality may spark important conversations but also trigger painful memories or defensive reactions among some community members
  • A public art project about immigration may need to be carefully facilitated to ensure respectful dialogue and avoid reinforcing stereotypes or conflicts
• Measuring and evaluating the specific impacts of performance on community building can be difficult, as many of the social and psychological effects are subjective and intangible
  • Surveys and interviews can help capture participants' and audiences' perceptions of social connection and empowerment, but may not fully reflect the depth or nuance of their experiences
  • Long-term ethnographic studies or participatory action research may be needed to assess the sustained impacts of performance on community dynamics and social change

Addressing Structural Inequities and Systemic Issues

• Performances alone may not be sufficient to address deeper structural or systemic issues affecting a community, such as poverty, discrimination, or political disenfranchisement
  • A community theater production about housing insecurity may raise awareness but not directly change local policies or economic conditions that contribute to homelessness
  • A participatory music project in a school may promote social-emotional learning and cultural pride but not address underlying issues of educational inequity or funding disparities
• Ensuring inclusive and equitable participation in performances can be challenging, particularly in diverse communities with varying levels of access, interest, and artistic experience
  • Language barriers, cultural differences, or physical disabilities may prevent some community members from fully engaging in performance projects without targeted outreach and accommodations
  • Historical legacies of exclusion or cultural appropriation in the arts may make some communities hesitant to participate in performances organized by dominant cultural institutions or outside groups

Case Studies of Community Building Through Performance

Teatro Campesino and the Chicano Movement

• The "Teatro Campesino" theater company, founded by Luis Valdez, used performances to organize and empower Chicano farmworkers in California during the 1960s and 70s
  • The company staged short, bilingual actos (skits) in fields and union halls to educate workers about their rights and encourage collective action
  • Performances drew on Mexican folk traditions and addressed issues such as labor exploitation, racism, and cultural identity, fostering a sense of pride and solidarity among Chicano audiences

Cornerstone Theater Company and Community-Based Theater

• The "Cornerstone Theater Company" in Los Angeles collaborates with diverse communities to create participatory theater productions that reflect local stories and issues
  • The company's "Bridge Show" model involves a multi-year residency in a community, during which company members live locally, build relationships, and devise a play with community participants
  • Past productions have explored themes such as urban-rural divides, environmental justice, and interfaith dialogue, bringing together community members who might not otherwise interact

Wing Luke Museum and Asian Pacific American Heritage

• The "Wing Luke Museum" in Seattle's Chinatown-International District hosts an annual "Jamfest" that brings together Asian Pacific American musicians and community members for a celebration of shared heritage and identity
  • The event features live performances by local artists, as well as participatory workshops and jam sessions that invite attendees to learn and play together
  • The museum also curates exhibitions and programs that explore the diverse histories and cultures of Asian Pacific Americans, providing a space for community gathering and cultural affirmation

Detroit Youth Choir and Urban Youth Empowerment

• The "Detroit Youth Choir," featured on "America's Got Talent," provides a supportive and empowering creative outlet for young people from diverse backgrounds in Detroit, fostering a sense of pride and unity within the city
  • The choir's dynamic performances showcase the talent and resilience of Detroit's youth, challenging negative stereotypes about the city and its residents
  • Participation in the choir offers youth opportunities for personal growth, leadership development, and community service, as well as exposure to high-profile performance opportunities

Tamejavi Cultural Organizing Fellowship and Immigrant Empowerment

• The "Tamejavi Cultural Organizing Fellowship Program" in California's Central Valley trains immigrant and refugee artists to use performance as a tool for community building and social change
  • Fellows learn community organizing skills alongside artistic training, and develop projects that address issues facing their communities, such as immigration policy, labor rights, or cultural preservation
  • The program culminates in a biennial "Tamejavi Festival," which brings together diverse immigrant and refugee communities to share their cultural traditions and stories through performance, dialogue, and celebration

Appalachia Community Theatre and Rural Cultural Preservation

• The "Appalachia Community Theatre" in Kentucky stages productions that celebrate and preserve the region's cultural heritage, while also addressing contemporary social and economic challenges faced by rural communities
  • Productions often draw on local music, storytelling, and folklore traditions, and involve community members as performers, musicians, and craftspeople
  • The theater also hosts community discussions and workshops that explore issues such as sustainable agriculture, opioid addiction, or economic diversification, using performance as a catalyst for dialogue and action