Please join us for a film screening and reception celebrating a unique collaboration between zAmya Theater Project and acclaimed choreographer Lelis Brito. This performance-based project brings together housed and unhoused community members to explore the profound experience of displacement, and how individuals find a sense of "home" within their own bodies and environments.
This film screening is the product of a five-week summer workshop series hosted at the Minneapolis Central Library and the Hennepin Center for the Arts. Participants who have experienced homelessness collaborated with Brito to develop and rehearse movement patterns—focusing on the physical gestures, routines, and expressions people engage in to manage emotions and cultivate a sense of safety and belonging.
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Schedule and details:
5:00–5:30 PM | Film Screening & Poetry: Gather in the parking lot on the north side of the Cowles Center for a line dance led by Marcia Barnes to kick off the event. The premiere of the 10-minute MY BODY MY HOME film will be projected on the Cowles Center facade, accompanied by a brief introduction by Lelis Brito and poetry readings by participants. Free popcorn and hot cocoa will be served. Seating is limited; bring an umbrella in case of light rain.
5:30–7:00 PM | Reception & Activities: Following the outdoor programming, join us in the Cowles Center lobby for light refreshments, celebration, and games led by choreographer Lelis Brito.
Accessibility:
For questions about accessibility or to request an accommodation, please contact Esther Ouray, Company Manager, at esther@zamyatheater.org or 612-760-4804.
More info:
Registration is encouraged but not required. There is no cost to register.
Free-will donations are welcome and support zAmya to continue offering art in service of housing justice. Donations can be made at the event, or online at https://www.zamyatheater.org/donate
This event is open to all ages but parental discretion is advised; the poetry readings include references to drugs, mental health challenges, and other sensitive topics.
At the reception following the film, $10 gift cards will be available to attendees with lived experience of homelessness, while supplies last.
Masks are welcome but not required; consider staying home if you have symptoms, as an act of community care.
Looking Ahead
An indoor screening of the MY BODY MY HOME film will take place at the Minneapolis Central Library during zAmya’s Shareformance on December 10 at 6pm.
About the choreographer:
Lelis Brito is a Venezuelan-American theater director, choreographer, educator, performer, writer, and director of the Center for Moving Cultures (CMC). The core of Brito’s work is the human body’s potential and activation—clarifying choice-making through the knowledge gained within the direct experience of a moving, sensing body.
About zAmya:
zAmya Theater Project uses the powerful combination of lived experience(s) and artistic expression to inspire our communities to work for housing justice for all. zAmya believes that theater can change the narrative of homelessness. Our performances grow from stories lived by participants and crafted by our core artistic members. We share them because we know that if we want to unravel the crisis, then we have to unravel the story. Since 2004, zAmya has been led by professional artists, and employs a group of actors who’ve experienced homelessness to create the plays, co-facilitate workshops, and guide the direction of the company.
Appreciation for our Funder:
This activity is made possible by the Bridge Fund for Dance program through the City of Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs Department.