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Our first workshop began by dividing into pairs and chatting with the conversation starter:
“your good dreams”...
Nine weeks later and three hours before we perform our co-created piece 'And from that day on, I always wear green' to an audience of womxn and children, my pockets are full of clothes pegs. I'm securing a washing line between the Church's stone pillars, hoping it will take the weight of the objects selected to represent each of our dreams. It holds! I take the things off the line and pile them on top of each other in preparation for the scene in the performance when each of us goes to the washing line to hang up a dream. In other parts of the piece each woman speaks about or dances their dream. To introduce our group I will describe each woman's dream; some are the sort you have when you're awake, describing hopes and aspirations, some are the sort you have when you're fast asleep:

Ahlam (bright green shirt) - “When I was younger, I lived in Iraq. I dreamt of having my own clothes shop. I did it. I was 19 years old. Then the war came. I lost it. That's life. Now I'm here. I enjoy my new life. I never give up.”

Cavita (toy fish) - “One day I dreamt of a big and beautiful fish. I woke up and I felt happy and calm. After this day I always wear green.”

Marianne (a picture of a pineapple cradled in the crook of an arm) - “One night I dreamt of a pineapple baby”

Monisola (house made of tin foil and paper) “Ladies and gentlemen, before I came to England I dreamt I was standing inside a house made of glass. And when I came to England it became true.

Isabella (post card) “Before I came to England I dreamt of many people from different cultures sharing moments with each other. And look at us here today.”

Maryam (leaf) “I dream that our children will see a greener planet than me. I am a vegan and I save water. I dream for FREE BUS PASSES!'

Performers: Isabella, Maryam, Cavita, Ahlam, Monisola
Commissions: Cavita, Monisola, Ahlam
Meeting Point project leader: Judith Shalkowski
Creative producer: João Maio
Artistic director: Marianne Tuckman
Live music/ voice workshops: Georgie Buchanan
Photography: Mahshid Alavi

During the nine weeks our workshops were attended by different women, some came every week, some, due to their extremely complicated living situations dropped in an out. Senait, wrote the verse

“We need our documents so things can change
We need our documents so things can change
I want to go to school i want to work
I want to walk in green spaces”

She could not attend our workshops again because she was waiting for her ID card from the home office. She couldn't take the risk of not being there when it arrived in case someone else in her shared accommodation would take it. The card was weeks late and once it did eventually arrive, the pressure to work and study was such that she didn't have the time to attend our workshops. I kept in touch with Senait, sending her pictures of her lyrics through whatsap, to which she replied “O lovely, thank you darling'.

One week in May we were visited by a young woman from Eritrea and her daughter who stayed sleeping in a push chair, while her mother danced and sang. We began the workshop with the question “what did you dream last night”, she said I dreamt of my baby son who I left in Eritrea. I dream of him most nights. After our workshop we had lunch together and stayed to watch women from Meeting Point read their poems as part of the planting and writing project Roots Shoots Bloom Fruits LS12. During the performance she rested her head on my shoulder. She asked me my age. I told her 27. She was shocked! Don't you have any children? I said not yet. I asked her how old she was. She said 19. She is living alone with her 6 month year old daughter in a flat in Armley. I said is the flat nice? She said not really. I feel quite lonely. I need to focus on learning English so that once I am 18 I can work for this reason I will not come to dance again.

“Whao, it's fantastic. I really enjoy the performance. I wish it continue. Thanks so all the crew. I really enjoy myself”

“Excellent work. Enjoyed every second, wish you continue for many months. Don't stop doing good job. Bravo!!”

“Very nice, very good. I loved your show.”

“I loved seeing the group happy and dancing.”

“Inspiring and heart-warming to watch! All the women are incredible and I'm in awe of them!”

“I like this group xx”

“Very good to be together”

“Very good and interactive group. Involving all. Thanks.”
“Beautifully co-crafted! Moving glimpses into personal experiences. Free, safe expression. More please! :)”

“It was very engaging and fun watching.”

“Gorgeous!”

“Fabulous event. Very moving and uplifting. Never been to anything like this. Emotionally uplifting. Loved the dancing at the end. Thankyou!”

“YES! You filled the room and our spirits with hope, strength, joy and connection. So great to witness womxn being together, sharing, celebrating and thankyou for inviting us into that. Special stuff <3”

“Such a beautiful thing to witness and take part in. A true celebration of creativity and community. More please!”

“It was really very lovely dancing and singing. I have enjoyed it. Thank you.”

“Watching this performance was great. It showed confidence and connection within the women and how powerful this group is at bringing women together in their new community.”

“Very very very good. Very very good. Love to dance.”

“Loved to dance I feel happy.”

“Brilliant singing.”

“Very good made me happy.”

“Fantastic. Please come again”

“It was wonderful to see the women having the confidence to perform in front of an audience.”

“It was an excellent performance bringing together so many different parts of the world. A beautiful celebration of the diversity of cultures in the UK.”

“Loved it when we all joined in. Loads of noise. Children loved it too.”

“Good singing. I enjoyed very much”

“Good sing”