akira erika . south africa. sept 2011

what were your expectations of this program?

i expected to develop my skills further as a storyteller and to develop my writing and oratory skills by working with the sorplusi method.  i hoped to grow personally through this program and create new stories.

how have they been fulfilled or not fulfilled?

it has been very fulfilling to work with this methodology as it has helped me to creatively process and express the deep inner work i have been doing.  the sorplusi methodology has been the framework for this work.  it has guided me how to do that through creative writing and oral expression and has put me on the road to writing a collection of children’s stories which i have been wanting to do for years!  i have been challenged to stand up on stage and doing so has been tremendously fulfilling.

what element(s) of the program worked for you?

each one of the principles guided me to reflect upon both my inner world and my art practice in such a way that it has deeply impacted what art i create and how i go about it.  it has shown me how to process what comes up in a create way.   that is invaluable to me and the sorplusi methodology is truly a multi dimensional framework to create with.

what elements did not work for you?

none

what specific art/stories were you able to create/tell during the residency

        i have created a collection of children’s stories to be further developed.  they were messages of guidance and wisdom from a grandmother to her granddaughter.

what did you learn about yourself during the residency

        i learned to face my fears and as i did so they began to dwindle.  i learned to trust myself and my voice as it grows and develops.  i learned that i love working with children and that i am a storyteller.  i learned that i can heal through the process of writing and orally sharing it with others.  it taught me to believe in myself and trust myself.

if you were to tell others about this residency, what would you tell them?

        i would say go do it! you will find your creative voice and learn so much about yourself!

what suggestions do you have for improvement?

        possibly more structured time plans.  also more exercises and techniques to develop my bodily skills in oral storytelling.

summarize your experience of YEMOYA into one sentence.

         i have learned so much about myself through this methodology and created both written and oral pieces guided by a solid framework that will structure all my future creative work.