[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] once upon a time we were all children we
once upon a time we were all children we
once upon a time we were all children we had hiding places and crooked little
had hiding places and crooked little
had hiding places and crooked little corners that became our castles are
corners that became our castles are
corners that became our castles are caves fortresses and caverns we used to
caves fortresses and caverns we used to
caves fortresses and caverns we used to love jumping into mud puddles which
love jumping into mud puddles which
love jumping into mud puddles which became our oceans and seas rivers and
became our oceans and seas rivers and
became our oceans and seas rivers and streams once upon a time we were all
streams once upon a time we were all
streams once upon a time we were all children and anything was possible a
children and anything was possible a
children and anything was possible a rope could be a snake a stick a want the
rope could be a snake a stick a want the
rope could be a snake a stick a want the floor cushion a bus Bob Bob and a
floor cushion a bus Bob Bob and a
floor cushion a bus Bob Bob and a bathroom sink could be a pond like I
bathroom sink could be a pond like I
bathroom sink could be a pond like I said anything was possible for a child
said anything was possible for a child
said anything was possible for a child today was yesterday yesterday was so
today was yesterday yesterday was so
today was yesterday yesterday was so many days ago because their sense of
many days ago because their sense of
many days ago because their sense of time isn’t accurate and thus infinite
time isn’t accurate and thus infinite
time isn’t accurate and thus infinite numbers do not exist in their world play
numbers do not exist in their world play
numbers do not exist in their world play is limitless and possibility ever
is limitless and possibility ever
is limitless and possibility ever available that too for free until one
available that too for free until one
available that too for free until one day these lands of wonder are invaded by
day these lands of wonder are invaded by
day these lands of wonder are invaded by treacherous villains us you and I all of
treacherous villains us you and I all of
treacherous villains us you and I all of us and suddenly we fill these wonderful
us and suddenly we fill these wonderful
us and suddenly we fill these wonderful worlds with expectations of all sorts
worlds with expectations of all sorts
worlds with expectations of all sorts big and small all sorts we bombard their
big and small all sorts we bombard their
big and small all sorts we bombard their lands with numbers and figures facts
lands with numbers and figures facts
lands with numbers and figures facts answers questions additions subtractions
answers questions additions subtractions
answers questions additions subtractions multiples divisible x’ and it goes on
multiples divisible x’ and it goes on
multiples divisible x’ and it goes on and on and on we expect them to sit
and on and on we expect them to sit
and on and on we expect them to sit straight in classrooms listen to the
straight in classrooms listen to the
straight in classrooms listen to the teacher form straight lines and to my
teacher form straight lines and to my
teacher form straight lines and to my horror in a lot of places at the tender
horror in a lot of places at the tender
horror in a lot of places at the tender age of 3 4 & 5 appear in examination
age of 3 4 & 5 appear in examination
age of 3 4 & 5 appear in examination halls and produce results if they do not
halls and produce results if they do not
halls and produce results if they do not measure up to our expectations we do
measure up to our expectations we do
measure up to our expectations we do something not right
something not right
something not right we often ridicule them we shame them
we often ridicule them we shame them
we often ridicule them we shame them we demean them we criticize them and in
we demean them we criticize them and in
we demean them we criticize them and in this process somewhere we keep telling
this process somewhere we keep telling
this process somewhere we keep telling them that they’re not good enough
them that they’re not good enough
them that they’re not good enough without realizing that this is killing
without realizing that this is killing
without realizing that this is killing their sense of self that this is
their sense of self that this is
their sense of self that this is damaging them and their belief in
damaging them and their belief in
damaging them and their belief in themselves we forget that these children
themselves we forget that these children
themselves we forget that these children are something there are somebody today
are something there are somebody today
are something there are somebody today but we are so focused on making them
but we are so focused on making them
but we are so focused on making them something tomorrow that we do not let
something tomorrow that we do not let
something tomorrow that we do not let them be who they are today
them be who they are today
them be who they are today this damage stays with us often forever
this damage stays with us often forever
this damage stays with us often forever I think we all have at some point and
I think we all have at some point and
I think we all have at some point and the audit and I believe that it can be
the audit and I believe that it can be
the audit and I believe that it can be prevented but in order for us to do that
prevented but in order for us to do that
prevented but in order for us to do that we first need to fix the damage and
we first need to fix the damage and
we first need to fix the damage and that’s what I’m here to talk about today
that’s what I’m here to talk about today
that’s what I’m here to talk about today how we can fix these damages that we’ve
how we can fix these damages that we’ve
how we can fix these damages that we’ve endured as children and that children
endured as children and that children
endured as children and that children these days do endure themselves as well
these days do endure themselves as well
these days do endure themselves as well but before I get to that I will share
but before I get to that I will share
but before I get to that I will share with you a small story about a girl who
with you a small story about a girl who
with you a small story about a girl who was rather undiscovered till the age of
was rather undiscovered till the age of
was rather undiscovered till the age of 17 or 18 she was uh she was she could
17 or 18 she was uh she was she could
17 or 18 she was uh she was she could sing and dance and act he was rather
sing and dance and act he was rather
sing and dance and act he was rather talented um but numbers didn’t quite
talented um but numbers didn’t quite
talented um but numbers didn’t quite make sense to her chemical equations
make sense to her chemical equations
make sense to her chemical equations weren’t really her best friends and so
weren’t really her best friends and so
weren’t really her best friends and so she was often discouraged in in
she was often discouraged in in
she was often discouraged in in classrooms by her teachers whenever she
classrooms by her teachers whenever she
classrooms by her teachers whenever she would raise her hand twice or thrice to
would raise her hand twice or thrice to
would raise her hand twice or thrice to ask the dirt the science or math teacher
ask the dirt the science or math teacher
ask the dirt the science or math teacher or something and they would say why are
or something and they would say why are
or something and they would say why are you not understanding this are you
you not understanding this are you
you not understanding this are you trying to play with me and she would be
trying to play with me and she would be
trying to play with me and she would be like what no I’m just asking you this
like what no I’m just asking you this
like what no I’m just asking you this and so this just kept going on and until
and so this just kept going on and until
and so this just kept going on and until she started believing that maybe
she started believing that maybe
she started believing that maybe something really was wrong with her that
something really was wrong with her that
something really was wrong with her that maybe she was lacking at something and
maybe she was lacking at something and
maybe she was lacking at something and so throughout academic year she started
so throughout academic year she started
so throughout academic year she started shutting herself little by little
shutting herself little by little
shutting herself little by little as results became this shy and unsure
as results became this shy and unsure
as results became this shy and unsure child she started believing that she
child she started believing that she
child she started believing that she could not do much she forgot about her
could not do much she forgot about her
could not do much she forgot about her talents because they were never really
talents because they were never really
talents because they were never really honed in school and she became rather
honed in school and she became rather
honed in school and she became rather lonely until one day she found something
lonely until one day she found something
lonely until one day she found something that cured her something that I would
that cured her something that I would
that cured her something that I would say was art in all its color and
say was art in all its color and
say was art in all its color and vibrancy that was sport in the exercise
vibrancy that was sport in the exercise
vibrancy that was sport in the exercise that was there was math in its
that was there was math in its
that was there was math in its measurement of time and space that was
measurement of time and space that was
measurement of time and space that was science and the understanding of beings
science and the understanding of beings
science and the understanding of beings that was geography and places felt and
that was geography and places felt and
that was geography and places felt and experienced that was history in
experienced that was history in
experienced that was history in characters note and delivered that was
characters note and delivered that was
characters note and delivered that was language I would say very human centric
language I would say very human centric
language I would say very human centric because it was so communicative and
because it was so communicative and
because it was so communicative and adaptive it was an inter disciplinary
adaptive it was an inter disciplinary
adaptive it was an inter disciplinary it was theatre and that girl was I and
it was theatre and that girl was I and
it was theatre and that girl was I and this happened on a very regular evening
this happened on a very regular evening
this happened on a very regular evening somewhere in 2005 when by chance I was
somewhere in 2005 when by chance I was
somewhere in 2005 when by chance I was attending a theatre workshop and this
attending a theatre workshop and this
attending a theatre workshop and this the workshop conductor says to me oh yes
the workshop conductor says to me oh yes
the workshop conductor says to me oh yes please your name out loud what is he
please your name out loud what is he
please your name out loud what is he saying what does he mean out loud how
saying what does he mean out loud how
saying what does he mean out loud how can I say my name out loud and I looked
can I say my name out loud and I looked
can I say my name out loud and I looked at him like that and he said it’s okay
at him like that and he said it’s okay
at him like that and he said it’s okay woman we’re not going to eat you and I
woman we’re not going to eat you and I
woman we’re not going to eat you and I okay yeah you’re right and I try to fix
okay yeah you’re right and I try to fix
okay yeah you’re right and I try to fix my shirt and I was all fidgety and
my shirt and I was all fidgety and
my shirt and I was all fidgety and nervous and unsure and I said Sara Zarr
nervous and unsure and I said Sara Zarr
nervous and unsure and I said Sara Zarr here well he looked at me like really um
here well he looked at me like really um
here well he looked at me like really um a bit louder I’m pretty sure you can do
a bit louder I’m pretty sure you can do
a bit louder I’m pretty sure you can do this come on just give it a try okay
[Music]
[Music] Salizar head I said Wow and in that
Salizar head I said Wow and in that
Salizar head I said Wow and in that moment I felt so liberated I had just
moment I felt so liberated I had just
moment I felt so liberated I had just said my name out loud that was it
said my name out loud that was it
said my name out loud that was it but I felt like I had unlocked myself
but I felt like I had unlocked myself
but I felt like I had unlocked myself like like my voice and myself that I had
like like my voice and myself that I had
like like my voice and myself that I had been hiding for years and years and
been hiding for years and years and
been hiding for years and years and years just opened up in that one little
years just opened up in that one little
years just opened up in that one little second when I spoke my name in front of
second when I spoke my name in front of
second when I spoke my name in front of a bunch of people and then just like
a bunch of people and then just like
a bunch of people and then just like that I was asked to jump and walk around
that I was asked to jump and walk around
that I was asked to jump and walk around and I was asked what a pen could be and
and I was asked what a pen could be and
and I was asked what a pen could be and I thought hmm it could be a cotton bud
I thought hmm it could be a cotton bud
I thought hmm it could be a cotton bud or a telescope or it could be a stick
or a telescope or it could be a stick
or a telescope or it could be a stick that bricks it could be anything which
that bricks it could be anything which
that bricks it could be anything which meant that anything was possible which
meant that anything was possible which
meant that anything was possible which meant that I had just in that moment
meant that I had just in that moment
meant that I had just in that moment gotten back my world of possibility that
gotten back my world of possibility that
gotten back my world of possibility that world that I lost somewhere
world that I lost somewhere
world that I lost somewhere when I was a child I had just been given
when I was a child I had just been given
when I was a child I had just been given back my castles and caves my fortresses
back my castles and caves my fortresses
back my castles and caves my fortresses my pools and rivers and streams and it
my pools and rivers and streams and it
my pools and rivers and streams and it was wonderful the world had just opened
was wonderful the world had just opened
was wonderful the world had just opened itself to me and I to it so right after
itself to me and I to it so right after
itself to me and I to it so right after graduating I decided that it was
graduating I decided that it was
graduating I decided that it was something on the same lines that I
something on the same lines that I
something on the same lines that I wanted to do and I decided to teach
wanted to do and I decided to teach
wanted to do and I decided to teach because I thought that I need to engage
because I thought that I need to engage
because I thought that I need to engage with students I need to engage with
with students I need to engage with
with students I need to engage with children and tell them that whoever they
children and tell them that whoever they
children and tell them that whoever they are is enough because if they believe in
are is enough because if they believe in
are is enough because if they believe in themselves they can be anything anything
themselves they can be anything anything
themselves they can be anything anything at all and I started teaching and I
at all and I started teaching and I
at all and I started teaching and I started delivering my lectures and souls
started delivering my lectures and souls
started delivering my lectures and souls all sorts of interactive ways because I
all sorts of interactive ways because I
all sorts of interactive ways because I thought that children sleeping at the
thought that children sleeping at the
thought that children sleeping at the back in a lecture not right so it should
back in a lecture not right so it should
back in a lecture not right so it should be animating it and it should be vibrant
be animating it and it should be vibrant
be animating it and it should be vibrant and it should be something that they
and it should be something that they
and it should be something that they enjoy and I guess during all the years
enjoy and I guess during all the years
enjoy and I guess during all the years that I taught this subject that I was
that I taught this subject that I was
that I taught this subject that I was teaching I was some somewhat are able to
teaching I was some somewhat are able to
teaching I was some somewhat are able to achieve that but the real moment of
achieve that but the real moment of
achieve that but the real moment of happiness came when in 2010 I was asked
happiness came when in 2010 I was asked
happiness came when in 2010 I was asked to teach at a junior and middle school
to teach at a junior and middle school
to teach at a junior and middle school for girls as a teacher for theater and I
for girls as a teacher for theater and I
for girls as a teacher for theater and I thought this is it and since then
thought this is it and since then
thought this is it and since then it’s gonna be seven years now I have
it’s gonna be seven years now I have
it’s gonna be seven years now I have been walking into classrooms and I’ve
been walking into classrooms and I’ve
been walking into classrooms and I’ve been looking at these girls who look so
been looking at these girls who look so
been looking at these girls who look so much like me back in the day with with
much like me back in the day with with
much like me back in the day with with with them not so sure about themselves
with them not so sure about themselves
with them not so sure about themselves with them thinking they’re not good
with them thinking they’re not good
with them thinking they’re not good enough with them little afraid and a
enough with them little afraid and a
enough with them little afraid and a little shy and a little introverted and
little shy and a little introverted and
little shy and a little introverted and I tell them yes your name please
I tell them yes your name please
I tell them yes your name please out loud and they give me the same kind
out loud and they give me the same kind
out loud and they give me the same kind of expressions I gave my instructor back
of expressions I gave my instructor back
of expressions I gave my instructor back then and ice worse than the situation
then and ice worse than the situation
then and ice worse than the situation when I say could you jump for me and
when I say could you jump for me and
when I say could you jump for me and they look at me like oh my god this
they look at me like oh my god this
they look at me like oh my god this woman is crazy she’s asking us to jump
woman is crazy she’s asking us to jump
woman is crazy she’s asking us to jump what is wrong with her and they roll
what is wrong with her and they roll
what is wrong with her and they roll their eyes at me and exchange glances
their eyes at me and exchange glances
their eyes at me and exchange glances and I just Alex Jim you see it’s that
and I just Alex Jim you see it’s that
and I just Alex Jim you see it’s that simple I just did this I am turning 30
simple I just did this I am turning 30
simple I just did this I am turning 30 to next week I have two children and I’m
to next week I have two children and I’m
to next week I have two children and I’m a little fat if I just did this you will
a little fat if I just did this you will
a little fat if I just did this you will if I can do this you will and they’re
if I can do this you will and they’re
if I can do this you will and they’re somewhere over there they smile and they
somewhere over there they smile and they
somewhere over there they smile and they giggle and laugh and they jump and that
giggle and laugh and they jump and that
giggle and laugh and they jump and that right there is there a gateway to a new
right there is there a gateway to a new
right there is there a gateway to a new world a world that asks them to be
world a world that asks them to be
world a world that asks them to be anything they want to be a world where
anything they want to be a world where
anything they want to be a world where they’re not so afraid they’re not so shy
they’re not so afraid they’re not so shy
they’re not so afraid they’re not so shy where they can just be without being
where they can just be without being
where they can just be without being judged without having to produce a
judged without having to produce a
judged without having to produce a result and have a star shining on them
result and have a star shining on them
result and have a star shining on them they can just be themselves and have fun
they can just be themselves and have fun
they can just be themselves and have fun and engage in talks with each other and
and engage in talks with each other and
and engage in talks with each other and exchange stories and connect with each
exchange stories and connect with each
exchange stories and connect with each other and so I thought this needs to be
other and so I thought this needs to be
other and so I thought this needs to be further taken down somewhere which is
further taken down somewhere which is
further taken down somewhere which is why I sat back two years ago and I
why I sat back two years ago and I
why I sat back two years ago and I thought I need to come up with a theater
thought I need to come up with a theater
thought I need to come up with a theater company of my own and I did myself and
company of my own and I did myself and
company of my own and I did myself and my husband we founded a small little
my husband we founded a small little
my husband we founded a small little theatre company that’s called chota
theatre company that’s called chota
theatre company that’s called chota motor theater
motor theater
motor theater [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] and so de moda theater is basically a
and so de moda theater is basically a
and so de moda theater is basically a platform with this incredible team of
platform with this incredible team of
platform with this incredible team of enthusiastic people that we have working
enthusiastic people that we have working
enthusiastic people that we have working with us it’s a platform that wants to
with us it’s a platform that wants to
with us it’s a platform that wants to encourage people to join it that is it
encourage people to join it that is it
encourage people to join it that is it people of all ages ethnicities color
people of all ages ethnicities color
people of all ages ethnicities color background profession no matter who you
background profession no matter who you
background profession no matter who you are all you need to do is come and do
are all you need to do is come and do
are all you need to do is come and do some theater because really we could all
some theater because really we could all
some theater because really we could all catch a break really we all need to
catch a break really we all need to
catch a break really we all need to engage with ourselves and with each
engage with ourselves and with each
engage with ourselves and with each other and realize that we’ve stopped
other and realize that we’ve stopped
other and realize that we’ve stopped wandering that we have stopped thinking
wandering that we have stopped thinking
wandering that we have stopped thinking beyond our boxes that we’ve stopped
beyond our boxes that we’ve stopped
beyond our boxes that we’ve stopped engaging with all of our senses that we
engaging with all of our senses that we
engaging with all of our senses that we have stopped living moments like they
have stopped living moments like they
have stopped living moments like they should be lived and this is why I would
should be lived and this is why I would
should be lived and this is why I would say that if I so many years ago I would
say that if I so many years ago I would
say that if I so many years ago I would have given up on myself if theatre had
have given up on myself if theatre had
have given up on myself if theatre had not found me but I’m so glad it did
not found me but I’m so glad it did
not found me but I’m so glad it did because otherwise I would have been so
because otherwise I would have been so
because otherwise I would have been so lost therefore I urge you all all of you
lost therefore I urge you all all of you
lost therefore I urge you all all of you to do theater because life is it should
to do theater because life is it should
to do theater because life is it should be about living not just existing and
be about living not just existing and
be about living not just existing and theater that’s what it does it reminds
theater that’s what it does it reminds
theater that’s what it does it reminds you then life should be lived not by
you then life should be lived not by
you then life should be lived not by some of us but all of us you and I all
some of us but all of us you and I all
some of us but all of us you and I all of us thank you
”
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