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| US Patriots at the Pyramids |
The White House’s first wave of assaults on government-funded programs left many defunct or disabled. But at least one group managed to carry out its plans, without federal funds and in defiance of an order to stop. These intrepid and inspired artists are the performers of Time Lapse Dance, led by New York choreographer Jody Sperling (center, above).
With a grant from the US Embassy in Cairo, the company spent three years planning a tour--- to perform for children and young people at Egypt’s Hakawy International Arts Festival. On Sunday, January 26th, the day before they were to depart, Sperling woke up to a message from the State Department: her grant was terminated and she must stop the program immediately. It was a short phone call, she says. She was in shock. The costumes were all packed, the plane tickets purchased. She began a frantic round of fund-raising, and re-negotiating contracts with her Egyptian hosts. “They can’t stop us from going,” she said. Long story short: the cancelled tour went on.
