“The LEIMAY Fellowship and Outsight performance program undoubtedly grew and challenged my work as an artist, outside of the bounds that I imagined. The community building expertise, practice, and support provided by LEIMAY staff and Ximena and Shige conceptualized and grounded my work in integrity with myself. I was able to realize my work as not simply a dance performance, but as something informed by and in conversation with the community around me, and therefore inspiring change in those who witnessed me. The professional development workshops around community building and public performance gave my work the space I did not know it needed. I now view all of my developing pieces with the lens provided by LEIMAY. The 60 hours of studio space grant was perfect and allowed for flexibility in my schedule as an artist. The fellowship has made a profound shift in the way I both view and actualize my performance work, and I am filled with deep gratitude for the space and program LEIMAY, Shige and Ximena have created.”
– Nana Chinara, 2019-2020 Garden Fellow