ASSITEJ 2024 Reflections

Flying Leap is back from ASSITEJ Cuba and we are so excited to share some thoughts and reflections with you!

Here is some background if you are unfamiliar with ASSITEJ:

ASSITEJ, the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People, is the international trade organization for professionals in theatre for children and young people. There are 83 national centres globally, including our own TYA/USA. ASSITEJ hosts a World Congress every three years, visiting a different member country each time to share workshops, performances, and research from artists from around the world.

Okay, onto our reflections!

Susanna Brock

“ASSITEJ in Cuba was a trip of a lifetime! It was a very unique opportunity to meet artists from all over the world who make theater for children and are extremely passionate about supporting young people. I learned so much talking to administrators and creators from Mongolia, Cuba, Estonia, South Korea, Mexico, Germany and Senegal. Seeing performances from many different countries helped broaden my idea of what Theater for young Audiences can look like and made me super inspired to keep making this important work. I am incredibly grateful that Flying Leap sent my  colleagues and I on this trip and we are coming back with our heads and hearts brimming with ideas and inspiration!”

Ana Cantorán Viramontes:

“Being in Cuba for  ASSITEJ 2024 was an incredible opportunity to connect with the international TYA Community at large, to get inspired by the incredible work that is happening across the world and also to learn about the challenges that other artists from different countries and cultures face in their art making endeavors. 

It was a validating and reaffirming experience that encourage us to keep making radically accessible and high quality theater for children and families!”

Jess Kaufman

“ASSTIEJ Cuba was a once in a lifetime experience. Our Cuban hosts were so welcoming, and we all braved the heat together! Our little group got a reputation as the “fan girls” thanks to the big, beautiful, iridescent hand fans Susanna brought from home!

Most of all, I’m still taking in the generosity of artists from around the world. I connected with a teacher from Mongolia, a dance producer from Zimbabwe, a researcher from India, clowns from Cuba, artists from Colombia, Germany, New Zealand… it was deeply healing and inspiring to be surrounded by a global community of people who care so deeply about children and the arts. One of my favorite recurring conversations at the conference was hearing about what nature materials artists in other countries would use in a local production of The Garden, and talking about what it would look like to bring our work to other continents!”

We wanted to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who donated to help us cover the cost of this incredible opportunity for our company. We are also deeply thankful for our entire audience, whose continued support and engagement have brought us to this point. We're so thankful to be part of such an amazing community. Stay tuned for more exciting news by following us on social media to keep up with our latest updates!

A Quick Recap from TYA/USA National Conference!

Flying Leap is still riding high on the waves of inspiration and enthusiasm following the successful 2024 TYA/USA National Festival & Conference! In addition to presenting – Jess spoke on a panel, and Ana and Susanna ran a workshop with their company Spellbound – we attended excellent panels, saw some wonderful shows, and connected to our US-based theater for young audiences community!

TYA/USA 2024 and ASSITEJ Cuba – We need your support to connect to our community!

Flying Leap has been invited to present at the 21st ASSITEJ World Congress in Havana, Cuba! On the heels of our successful presentations at the US Conferences in 2023 and 2024, we're thrilled to bring our workshop on access and the outdoors to the international community.

We are still seeking sponsors to help cover costs of our trip!

  • $100 pays for a night of accommodation for all 3 of us.

  • $150 covers all of our meals for the 4 days of the conference.

  • $250 buys a conference pass.

  • $500 flies an artist round trip.

    Any amount helps! Please donate below via the button 
    or email jess@flying-leap.com

Experience Magic: Lights in the Sky - Get Your Tickets Now!

We are so excited to announce our upcoming event that promises to be an enchanting experience for the whole family: 

Lights in the Sky: A Children’s Shabbat Ceremony.

This is a work of immersive Jewish spiritual theater from Temple of the Stranger for families with children aged 4-10. In this interactive ceremony of radiance and renewal, families will use their own “Shabbos light” to journey together into Shabbat through light and dark, rest, hypnotic visuals, relaxing music, captivating storytelling, and interactive play. 

Directed by Logan Gabrielle Schulman and created by the artists of Flying Leap Productions in collaboration with Rabbi Jericho Vincent, this Temple of the Stranger Shabbat Ceremony is not your bubbe’s youth service!

All are welcome, including interfaith families, queer families, and Jewish families of all backgrounds. No prior Jewish experience required. Ideal for families with children aged 4-10; older and younger siblings welcome. Snacks provided, each child will take home a small spiritual craft project. Dress for play and crafts - we may get a little messy!

Each child requires their own ticket.

Each child may be accompanied by one unticketed adult.

Additional adults accompanying children need their own tickets.
(This is not a drop off-event.)

Introducing our Collaborating Artists for Beyond the Wall:

Jacksubeli Gonzalez (she/her)

is a native of Nogales, Sonora (MX) with a broad range of experience working with non-governmental organizations that promote the arts, culture and education. Jack is currently the Mexican Operations Director for Border Youth Tennis Exchange (BYTE) a multinational youth development organization in Nogales AZ/SON. She is a graduate of the National Pedagogical University with a bachelor of Educational Intervention and intercultural education. Jacksubeli helped facilitate the creation of the Municipal System to Prevent, Attend, Punish and Eradicate Violence Against Women and has been active in many municipal initiatives to empower women in Northern Mexico. Jacksubeli has also designed and deployed art curricula for the Mexican Ministry of Culture, where she has been recognized for leadership in community development.


Oscar Lancaster

(he/him)

is a teacher and cultural promoter with more than 15 years of experience working in arts and education in the public and private sectors in Mexico. Born and raised in Nogales, Sonora, Oscar is passionate about bringing arts and empathy programs to underserved youth. He has a Licenciada (BA equivalent) in Communication and a Diploma in Theater from the Universidad de Sonora. He has experience in Mexican state and municipal cultural and education institutions, over 10 years experience teaching middle and high school arts, sports, and English, and he founded and manages a nonprofit art association producing original theater for young people in Nogales.


Planning to Plan: Learning about strategic planning at A.R.T. NYC’s Fall Forum

Laura Gale (pictured) and Amy Fiore spoke about the principles necessary to guide artistic organizations during their A.R.T. NYC Fall Forum session titled “Strategic Planning Done Right: A Guide To Creating Real Change.” 

Change is inevitable, and in today's dynamic and ever-evolving world, it's a phenomenon that organizations must not only accept but embrace. The good news for artistic communities is that the creative energy that powers our work is the same that can be harnessed to find nuanced ways to shift and change course as needed. Some artists worry that planning can be too structured and might seem like it's taking away their creative freedom (myself included!). But without a well-thought-out plan that combines artistic and business strategies, it's challenging for any organization to maintain a high level of artistry. Building organizational muscle that is primed for change and embraces it instead of fearing it can make the difference between success and stagnation. 

 A group of us from Flying Leap spent time with this concept during one of the sessions offered during the first fall forum hosted by A.R.T./ New York (Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York), a nonprofit organization that has supported the city’s nonprofit theaters since 1972. The two-day forum aimed to foster community, collaboration, and resource sharing, featuring panel discussions, workshops, mixers, and roundtable conversations for collective learning and problem-solving. Attendees celebrated their shared values, emphasizing the resilience and unity of the arts community. 

We encountered a community of artists and leaders who demonstrated resilience and unity in the face of challenges. One particular session, "Strategic Planning Done Right: A Guide To Creating Real Change," guided us through the intricacies of effective planning and change management. Amy Fiore, a strategic planning and fundraising consultant, and Laura Gale, a leadership development consultant and change management strategist, came together to share their decades of experience maneuvering around the intricacies of planning and change management with a focus on the beliefs and behaviors that are vital for organizational leaders. 

The session left us with valuable takeaways:

Ask Yourself “Why?”: Differentiating Mission from Strategy

Why do you need a strategic plan? Sometimes, people confuse mission statements with strategic plans. While having a mission is crucial—it's like your organization's guiding star—a strategic plan outlines the specific steps you'll take to reach that mission. Think of it as a roadmap. How will you achieve your goals? Crafting a mission takes time and is a long-term endeavor, but a strategic plan breaks it down into manageable steps. It includes success metrics to ensure you're on the right track and communicates the work needed to fulfill your mission.

Listen, No Really: Embracing Diverse Perspectives

When you claim to be listening, consider who you're actually listening to. Are you only hearing from those you already trust? Engage with a diverse range of voices, including different parts of your organization, your audience, and those who may not typically have a say. They may have insights into different workflows, processes that will be impacted by the work being proposed. Remember, we can't be aware of what we don't know.

Imagination and Agility Go Hand in Hand: Navigating Fear and Cultivating Growth

For an organization to successfully adapt and change course, it must have a clear understanding of its purpose. This understanding is the antidote to fear, which can lead to rigidity within an organization. An organization that fears adversity cannot grow. Identifying challenges and openly discussing the fear that may arise when exploring new directions is essential for growth. When planning for adaptation, prioritize agility in everything you do.

Plan to Plan: Setting Ambitious and Inclusive Goals

Part of clearly naming goals is ensuring that you have the capacity to do “the thing.” Part of setting clear goals is ensuring you have the capacity to achieve them. When creating SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely), consider adding a few more letters to the acronym: "SMART-IEE" (inclusive, equitable, and EXCITING). Prioritizing needs will increase your ability to achieve ambitious goals. Apply these principles as you move forward.

The journey of change management and strategic planning is one that every artistic community and organization must undertake in today's ever-evolving world. Embracing change isn't about stifling creativity but rather harnessing the creative energy that drives us to explore nuanced paths forward. It's understandable that some artists may fear that planning imposes constraints on their creative freedom, but the reality is that a well-crafted plan, merging artistic vision with sound business strategies, can elevate artistic endeavors to new heights.

Written by: Carla Zanoni

Tu BiShvat: Birthday of the Trees

Flying Leap celebrated Tu BiShvat at the Brooklyn Children's Museum in partnership with The Neighborhood with a showing of The Garden. 

This was our first time having The Garden in an indoors venue and it went amazingly!

It was amazing to see so many families intergrating and engaging in meaningful play with one another.

Parents and guardians are allowed to have fun, too!!

Missed out? Don’t worry, keep up with our newsletters and social medias to learn when The Garden is coming to your neighborhood!