I was born in Ann Arbor Michigan, the first child to immigrants. Receiving my grandmother’s name, I recall my first memory of coming back from Lebanon, at 18 months. Standing at the window, seeing black trees and branches towering into white sky. It seemed there was nothing there; I wanted to return “home” to grandmother. My parents told me we weren’t going ever again. I let out a voice that was an unconscious cry…my father’s forceful voice awoke me. At 18 months, my inner voice spoke: “I am going back…yes I am”.
Growing up in cross cultural situations between home and school, we’d play outside, in Michigan’s hills and swampland, with neighborhood friends. In open air, amid tall trees which seemed aware of me, the sound of singing birds or crickets’ resonated until dawn. I felt superimpositions of refugee camps of Lebanon and Pop Art America. Neighbors who were close friends.. moved away. Others came and thrust us into turmoil. The events in the media had a lot to do with it. Suddenly, kids didn’t want to play with us. I taught my siblings to rise above it through expressions beyond words: music communication, theater, and visual arts.
I later dedicated myself to this. I attended Marcel Marceau Mime Academy, Polish Laboratory Theater, in Paris, and studied with the Farruco Dance Family, and Colombian voice Anthropologist, Jorge Lopez, in Sevilla. I performed and taught at universities in Europe, USA, Middle East, and initiated international events, including with the Living Theater, Cristobal Jodorowsky, New World Performance Laboratory; and Visual Arts exhibitions in Museums/galleries.
My rule when I was younger: no matter what, I have to deliver. I bypassed most every obstacle constructing projects from own ideas.