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Help Rara Tou Limen travel to Haiti!

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Greetings Rara Tou Limen supporters, devotees of Haiti, and loyal Community,

Help Rara Tou Limen travel to Haiti!
August 20 - September 3, 2014





I humbly write to ask for your support towards "From the Bay to Haiti "“ RTL goes International!" In celebration of our 10th Anniversary, RTL will fly from the San Francisco Bay Area to Haiti to perform our 1st full-length production, Limye pou Ayiti...Lavi Kontinye! [Light for Haiti... Life Continues!] 

About Us 

Rara Tou Limen Haitian Dance Company (RTL) has consistently offered Bay Area residents, and people from all over the United States, the opportunity to experience Haitian culture through classes, workshops, performances and educational events in the United States and Haiti. Our troupe of dancers, vocalists and celebrated musicians, bring traditional rhythms, chants and movement to the stage, infused with the grace, strength, fluidity and precision of Haitian Folklore. Rara Tou Limen is committed to preserving and nurturing Haitian dance and musical traditions in the Bay Area.

Our mission is to educate audiences about the richness of Haitian culture through artistic expression, while building working relationships with other Haitian cultural groups in the U.S. and Haiti. In our 10 year history, we have been recognized through grants and awards from esteemed funders like the Alliance for California Traditional Arts, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Zellerbach Family Foundation, East Bay Community Foundation and Theater Bay Area CA$H Grants, and most recenty, FOKAL - (Fondasyon Konesans Ak Libète)






About The Trip

August 20 - September 3, 2014 "“ "RTL goes International"
We are scheduled to perform in the the following locations: 

1. Port-au-Prince
2. Jacmel
 

To further artistic growth, company members will also participate in folkloric dance workshops at Ecole Nationale des Arts (ENARTS) with Pierre Ramses, Dieufel Lamisere, and Pierre Marc-Elie, celebrated Haitian artists who are preserving Haitian Folklore. In addition, we will visit natural and historical landmarks to investigate and research Haitian cultural traditions.


About The Project

In keeping with our mission of building and enhancing working relationships between Bay Area artists promoting Haitian culture with artists in Haiti, Rara Tou Limen presented our first full-length production, Limye pou Ayiti, a chore-prayer and artistic offering to Haiti, October 8, 2011, with special guest Jeanguy Saintus, Artistic director of Haiti's premiere dance company, Ayikodans. The motivation behind Limye pou Ayiti stemmed from the company's personal and professional relationships with Haiti's artistic community, whom were severely affected by the earthquake. Four years later, the media's attention has shifted to other topics. Life has moved on for some, but for Haitian people, life will never be the same. Rara Tou Limen would like to present Limye pou Ayiti, as we must continue to shed light on Haiti and remind our audiences through artistic expression, that Haiti still needs us! Keeping the dance and musical traditions of Haiti alive is crucial to sustaining strength and solidarity with the people of the country.



How You Can Help

As we plan, we are seeking financial assistance from our larger community to help bring our vision to fruition. $2000 per person is our target to cover airfare, transportation, food and accommodations. The members of Rara Tou Limen will fundraise diligently up to our departure date, creating dynamic funding streams to meet our objective.

We seek monetary assistance to cover:

Airfare
Lodging
Transportation/Gas
Meals
Sound Equipment
Baggage/Costume Fees
Marketing Materials
Compensation for three folkloric dance instructors & four drummers to train RTL company member & accompany master dance classes 

Your tax-deductable contribution is appreciated! We cherish your role in expanding our cultural platforms to educate audiences about the richness of Haitian life while collectively celebrating the vibrancy of Haitian culture. 







Your give goes a long way with us, as it shall contribute to the following:

1. To present excerpts of our artistic offering to Haiti, Limye pou Ayiti (Light for Haiti - our first full length show) to audiences in Haiti.

2. Show solidarity through cultural, artistic expression, with celebrated Folkloric artists, companies, and directors in Haiti, while celebrating the vibrancy of Haitian culture.

3. Serve as cultural ambassadors and educators representing Haitian dance and musical traditions, by way of OAKLAND, CA!

4. Build and enhance working relationships between Bay Area artists promoting and preserving Haitian culture with Haitian artists in Haiti.

5. Provide a hot meal and beverage (3 days) to Ecole Nationale des Arts (ENARTS) dance students participating in community dance workshops presented by Rara Tou Limen.





2014 is our year, and we are celebrating our 10th anniversary in a BIG way! We are grateful for another year, in deep gratitude for our community, and looking forward to continue to uplift a country whose culture has increasingly sustained the Bay Area's artistic community and beyond. As activists, educators, scholars, dancers and musicians, we are honored to represent the Bay Area and participate in "From the Bay to Haiti: RTL goes International!"




Thank you for your consideration of this initiative and appreciate your time and valued support.

Sincerely,

Portsha Jefferson
Artistic Director, Rara Tou Limen




"Men anpil chay pa lou"
Many hands make the load lighter


Photo Credit:

Kimara Dixon - Black Choreographers Festival (BCF)
Chaplin Street Studio - Limye pou Ayiti

www.raratoulimen












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Donations 

  • Andrew Cooledge
    • $100
    • 7 yrs
  • Luanda Wesley
    • $200 (Offline)
    • 10 yrs
  • Rara Tou Limen + Project HOPE Art Donor Dinner 2014 | RASANBLE! Haitian Arts & Culture Festival
    • $1,397 (Offline)
    • 10 yrs
  • Antinette L. Jackson @ Malonga Center 7/20/14
    • $150 (Offline)
    • 10 yrs
  • David Roberts [courtesy of Elsie Lee] @ Malonga Center 7/20/14
    • $115 (Offline)
    • 10 yrs
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Organizer

Rara Tou Limen
Organizer
Oakland, CA

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