The Miami Dade College Live Arts 2017-2018 season Ojala / Inshalla: Wishes From the Muslim World was committed to exploring cultural intersections and dismantling xenophobia. The Spanish word Ojala means ”I wish” and derives its meaning from the Arabic phrase “insha’Allah'“ or God willing. The use of these words as the title of the series is a reminder of the Moorish impact on the Spanish language and Hispanic identity shared by many of greater Miami’s residents. The objective of the series is to celebrate Muslim and Middle Eastern and North African communities as a valuable part of Miami’s richly diverse culture.
Amongst the season’s offerings were Pakistan’s Sachal Ensemble, Iranian virtuoso Sahba Motallebi, and acclaimed choreographer Herve Koubi. Kismet Creative Studio worked with MDC Live Arts to document all of the season’s performances, artist lectures, and student engagement programs. The project resulted in the creation of documentary short season review and a short profile on the Hip Hoppa Locka community engagement project, which was a week-long hip-hop workshop hosted for grade school students in Opa Locka.
MDC Live Arts used these video materials as part of their marketing campaign for the following season, and to demonstrate the project’s fruition to their funding partners. Ojala/Inshallah was inspired by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, whose Building Bridges initiative made this project possible. It is offered with a spirit of hope and with wishes for inclusion, co-existence and mutual understanding.
For their 2018-2019 season, MDC Live Arts presented an elaborate and diverse selection of programming dedicated and representing strong women, (im)migrants, and innovators. The artists chosen to present included voices of resistance, examiners of history and explorers of future. Their works - theatre, music, dance and predominantly multidisciplinary - highlight or break the boundaries, borders and boxes that often define and/or confine us.
Kismet Creative Studio documented all of the season’s performances, artist lectures, and student engagement programs. The project resulted in the creation of documentary short season review.
Kismet Creative Studio worked with Miami Dade College to design and produce these projects from conception to completion.