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BAE Sankofa

music by Nasim Siddeeq

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When BAE was presented with the theme of Romeo and Juliet and Sankofa, they were ready to jump in. But even Shakespeare himself is an entity, a figure, a wisdom from the past something to be remembered and drawn from. Connecting Shakespeare to what’s going on with our students today, I had to ask, “How can we make R&J present and alive and a story for us today?

The response was incredible. “Let’s make it about gang violence.” “Let’s talk about poverty; one family is rich and one is poor.” “Let’s support gay couples.” With these things in mind we jump in. Here is Lindsay and Frances. Lindsay is playing Romeo and Frances is playing Juliet! They are amazing students! 

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Bronx Acting Ensemble acting out!  Rehearsal Ready!!!

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Sankofa and Romeo & Juliet

Most of us have heard of Romeo and Juliet, and if you haven’t, I’m sure you have heard the scenario before. Boy meets girl. (Well boy actually crashes a party he wasn’t invited to) They fall in love. They find out their parents are rivals. They secretly get married hoping love will conquer all. They both... commit suicide because it felt like the world was against them. Though the ending may seem morbid, the parents of Romeo and Juliet forget their strife and enmity and declare that they will make a statue in their honor, and in remembrance. 

Romeo and Juliet committed an awful deed. It is always a painful and devastating event when a human being takes their own life. Romeo and Juliet’s parents were so devastated, so destroyed, they decided to make a statue so everyone would remember Romeo and Juliet’s love, and by seeing their love distilled forget the past hatred and cherish life. 

DreamYard’s BAE has decided to unpack and explore the power of Sankofa through this story of old, infuse it with new life, and new hope! 

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Sankofa, "It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten." 

Have you ever had a moment in your life, where you remembered a event or an experience, that you wished you changed. “If I had listened more closely...If I had helped that friend...If I stood up for what I believed...If I was brave....

In all the experiences that we all have ever had, and all of the experiences of our ancestors before us, deep at the core of it all, is a nuggest. Is an Egg. A Seed. A Gem, whose value can change the course of Life. 

Have you ever looked back in your immediate past, and was able to lay hold of a nugget, a seed of knowledge and understanding that once laid hold of changed your life? anything at all? big or small? recent or long ago?

I remember, in 2000, I was getting ready to graduate from High School. I grew up in Williamsburg Va. In 10th grade I knew that I wanted to be an actor, and after I performed in a musical called, “The Me Nobody Knows,” I made acting my consistent focus. When time to graduate and the overwhelming pressures that come with applying for schools began to flow in, I found myself scared, lonely, and doubtful of my dreams coming true. At the end of the school year, the School of the Arts Program that I was studying with had a last day of celebration. At the end of the celebration they gave out scholarships. How surprised I was, utterly surprised when my name was called. I was given a scholarship that I remember, looking at the application, writing my name, writing my phone number and my address. And then taking the application and balling it up and throwing it in the trash, running to the bathroom with tears in my eyes. Overwhelmed. Self doubt. Lonely.

I received that scholarship, I later found out, because my theater teacher, Mrs. Dixon, found my balled up scholarship in the trash, she took it, went to my guidance counselor, Mrs. Dean,  and they filled out that application for me. 

Since then not only have my dreams come true but more importantly, finding out what my teachers did for me, all that they did for me, instilled a seed in my heart about giving, about youth, and about helping those in need, helping those, when life feels overwhelming. I looked back on that event, I looked back and remembered the look in my teacher’s eyes before she hugged me, handing me the scholarship I was too insecure to even apply for, and I was filled up. Filled up with Love. Knowledge. Empowered by love and support that I didn’t even know I had. My wings grew that day. 

As I have journeyed and moved forward in my life and in my passion. I have hit some bumps, setbacks, challenges, and thorns. I think of this experience, I think of this Nugget, this Seed, this Rose, and even though my wings may have endured some rough weather, my wings are steady, stronger, and can now endure far more.

Sankofa is everywhere. 700 years ago. Nuggets. 70 years ago. Seeds. 7 years ago, Roses. Sankofa. “It’s not wrong to go back for that which was forgotten. Learning from our past may be the only way to create the life and future we want......

What’s Sankofa for you?!   

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Romeo and Juliet to me...

Is a story revolving around two kids one who was trampled by life and the other lock into a tradition held by her family. Both set apart by the rivalries of their families, but love conquers all, but too much love can have fatal consequences as it sadly was for our favorite couple Romeo and Juliet. 

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Romeo and Juliet to me...

Romeo and Juliet isn’t just a play, it’s more like a lesson on life and love and how to try and maintain peace. I play the role of the Prince and I feel like it’s right for me because I am the type to fight for peace and I have a very prince like attitude. I feel pretty positive about this play and i think we’re all gonna do great and have fun together. -Lance Tejada

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Romeo and Juliet to me...

gave me a dost of reality of what people go through in order to be with their significant other and this can be impacted by religion, race or sexuality. In Romeo and Juliet we highlighted two females being in love with each other and this was a big twist that is really important to mention that LOVE ALWAYS WIN no  matter what the case is . Hopefully, by showcasing this will give the audience a new perspective of this is a new generation and change is happening regardless if you like it or not. ~Francis 

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In a world that breeds hatred, discrimination, and oppression, how do you hold onto love when you’ve found it?

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Hey, fellow students of BAE(Bronx Acting Ensemble). My name is Jeancarlos Aponte and I am 19 years old born in the Bronx, New York. I'm Hispanic and my parents are from the Dominican Republic, you can call me Jean or JC. I will be your intern for the two weeks we will be together this summer. I will be a sophomore in college at St. Bonaventure University. I'm currently studying Theater and potentially thinking of being a double minor in Spanish and International Business or Business Management. I am very excited to meet all of you this summer and ready to have an exciting two weeks of intensive Acting. See you all soon!!!

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Roselkis Morla I chose this photo from the African American History Museum because this quotes represent that we just need to be together, not matter race, skin color, stereotypes. We just need to close our eyes and think that we are all equal and in a way or another we need each other to success. The second photo represents one of my favorite moment of the trip, because I was walking with my friends and sharing fun moments that will be with me for the rest of my life. That just shows that we can make a family if we open our hearts and just get to know the people. Adding that sometimes we just have to forgot about our cellphones and look around us.

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Ahillin I learned that we have a beautiful nature in the ocean that we do not know at all that exist but in the aquarium we saw different fishes and many aquatic animals that I did not know existed in the ocean but now I know they exist.

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Nicholas Watson

The Aquarium was LIT! From the glowing light thingies…all the way to the dolphin tanks…it was awesome. Walking through the ramp with its facts on top was better than school alone. This was one of the coolest places I have ever went to…I truly hope I can comeback again!

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Alseni Seck 

The day at Center Stage was amazing. I learned that working as a group is important and we built trust between us. We are more than friends, a family who cares about each other. Be Courageous, Determined and Optimistic! Work hard for your dream and believe in yourself “ You Can Do It”. We saw the play called “Twisted Melody” which talked about the life of a young man called Danny Hathaway who had a mental illness that tormented him and the struggles he faces. It was so powerful and amazing.

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Jacob Richardson

The reason why I picked that photo is because this here is like my family and friends that I love working together with. Even though I still love my family they treated me nice - like a native son! That’s why i picked this photo.

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Aboubacar Barry 

The inspiration of black men, who’s optimistic ideas keep encouraging young black people to do great things-new city, new piece of mind- knowledgeable vacation

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Aboubacar Barry

View from the top- Aquarium enjoying the animal inhabitants on earth