SAYA Youth Attend Performance by The Red Curtain Project

In April, our Young Women’s Leadership cohort at MS 172 watched a performance by the Red Curtain Project, a storytelling initiative for youth. The Project creates and shares performances that amplify the diverse voices and cultures of America. Below, two of our participants share the impact the performance had on them:

“Last month, our group had the opportunity to meet Preeti Vasudevan, who created the Red Curtain Project. We were able to watch one of Preeti’s performances, in which she tells a story through the use of Indian classical dance. The story was about a girl named Moyna who is so curious about the world around her and never stops asking “why.” As young women, we got to understand how the education of children, mainly girls, is often neglected. 

After watching “The Why-Why Girl” by Mahasweta Devi, we discussed the moral of the story and the movements that Preeti used while telling the story. We talked about the theme of the story, and how it impacted us. This really showed us as young women the advantage of having an education and being able to go to school - especially since back then, girls were not as educated as boys. 

After our discussion, we started asking questions about why Preeti made this project, and her journey throughout it. We learned so much about her purpose and what she wishes to accomplish with her performances. This was a great experience for us, and we would love to have Preeti visit again.”
- Fatima and Amneek