“I am fascinated by the bridges between works that have been independently made, and SOAK has provided me with an opportunity to work alongside artists deep in their study. Performing with the support of the students at City Tech at Voorhees Hall allowed my work the time and technical assistance of a professional theater, which is a sparkly experience for an avant-garde artist.” – Sophia Treanor, SOAK Artist and LEIMAY Fellow, 2017-2018, 2018

“SOAK provides a vital resource to young artists attempting to grow their body of work and hone their craft. Presenting in SOAK offers you both an opportunity to stage and perform work, but also a supportive community that welcomes artistic exploration, success, and failure of all kind, which is perhaps the most important thing for young artists learning their craft and finding their voice.” – Drew Weinstein, SOAK Artist and LEIMAY Fellow 2017-2018, 2018

“SOAK is an incredible opportunity to explore new work in a professional and supportive environment. Shige and Ximena strike a great balance between encouraging experimentation and providing insightful critique to strengthen the work while staying true to its original intention. Presenting with a community of other artists platforming their own incarnations truly enriches the experience.” – Derek DiMartini, SOAK Artist, 2017

“Sharing new and highly vulnerable solo work during SOAK was affirming for me as a creator and community member. I felt supported by Ximena, Shige, and the entire LEIMAY Team. Post-show feedback from audience members and fellow artists was both insightful and essential to my creative process. I highly recommend SOAK for makers who want to take risks!” – Lou (Lindsey) Mandolini, SOAK Artist, 2017