UVIC's Third Annual Diversity Research Forum

Puente Theatre's artistic director, Lina de Guevara, will be participating in the third annual diversity research forum at UVIC held on Feb 11-12.  See Schedule

Here is a snip from the panel discussion description held from 12:30 to 2 pm:

There's something I'd like you to know: Relational Theatre Performances in the spirit of witnessing
Moderators: Will Weigler (theatre), Hiroko Noro (pacific and asian studies), Lina de Guevara (Puente Theatre Society), CindyAnn Rose-Redwood (geography)

In harmony with the spirit of the diversity conference, this workshop will foster attendees’ appreciation of the perspectives and experiences of “outsider” (international and Aboriginal) experiences of mainstream Canada by facilitating opportunities to listen and to witness. The workshop is inspired by—and conceptually based upon—Kelly Oliver’s groundbreaking work on “witnessing.” Oliver (2001) challenges the notion of “recognition” based on hierarchical and subject-object oriented human relations. She reconceives contemporary discourses surrounding multiculturalism, diversity and inclusion by approaching difference through the act of witnessing. The concept of Active Listening plays an important role in witnessing. Active Listening involves fully attending to the speaker by suspending one’s judgment while listening and by suspending the tendency to constantly formulate responses to what is being said according to one’s own frame of reference. Hiroko and Will met with Lina de Guevara, Artistic Director of Victoria’s Puente Theatre Society, whose work is founded in multicultural expression and promoting the practice of witnessing. We invited her to collaborate with us in planning and presenting a performance-based workshop involving the spirit and concept of witnessing.