CLOWNS WITHOUT BORDERS USA, TURKEY EARTHQUAKE SURVIVOR TOUR MARCH 2023
On 6 February 2023, an earthquake struck southern and central Turkey. There was widespread damage and tens of thousands of fatalities. An estimated 1.5 million people were homeless after the February 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake. Many are now living in tent villages as far as you can see.
That following March of 2023, Clowns Without Borders, USA, partnered with performing artists from Turkey to do an Earthquake Relief tour of Turkey. On this tour were Guray, Pinar, Selin, and photographer Zeynep from Turkey, Josie from Portland, Andrés from Mexico, and me.
We met in Istanbul to create and rehearse our show, then traveled to Gaziantep, Kahramamnaras, and Hatay, areas most affected by the earthquake. We performed at five or six locations daily, bringing as much joy and clown energy to as many areas as possible. Below, you will see more pictures of the tour.
You can read my blog post from the tour by clicking here
More information about Clowns Without Borders is here
Photo by @zeyneppsecil
Photo by @zeyneppsecil
Photo by Meredith
The Clowns Without Borders Bahamas 2019: Hurricane Dorian Relief Tour
In September 2019, Hurricane Dorian, a Category 5 Hurricane, struck The Bahamas. The impact included massive power outages, loss of homes, and destruction of roads, in addition to the costs to human lives. Over 60% of Grand Bahama Island was submerged. I was invited to join Clowns Without Border on a tour of the Bahamas. This tour took place during the holiday season as a way to offer the gift of laughter and create a space for Bahamians to gather in joy.
The other clowns on the tour were Clay Mazing and Leora Sapon-Shevin. Clay has performed with CBW in Lebanon, Haiti, Palestine, and the Balkans. Leora is an educator and actor. She is an alumna of Dell’Arte’s professional training program. This trip was the first CWB tour for Leora and me.
Our first week was in Nassau. We were there to do several days of workshops and a show for Haitian refugees. The refugees were living in a shelter, a basketball arena surrounded by tents.
I wrote several blog posts while on this tour. A link to the blog is here.
More information about Clowns Without Borders is here
The show at the shelter in Nassau in one of the tents by G.L. Issaacs Gymnasium
Our second week was in Freeport. Most of the island of Grand Bahama was underwater during Hurricane Dorian.
One of the routines I did was object balancing. At Mary Star of the Sea School in Freeport I found a broom.
Playing with an invisible ball at Mary Star of the Sea School in Freeport
After the show in the Garden Villas community in Freeport.
Our hosts Andrew and Paula Conway did the groundwork to introduce us to the community in Freeport. They scheduled our shows. They also took the pictures and recorded most of the video that week. .
Taxi/Bus at the Lucayan International School.
Hat tossing at Bishop Michael Eldon Primary School.
After show play Bishop Michael Eldon Primary School.
More after show play Bishop Michael Eldon Primary School.
The rained out show at Port Lucaya Marketplace.
Our wonderful host in Freeport, Andrew and Paula Conway.
Our first show in Freeport at Garden Villas.
Our first show in Freeport at Garden Villas.