Ableza's artists have been involved in many projects, including performance training, staging, writing and workshops. These have included collaborative programs with the Ursa Institute, Sonoma County Indian Health, Title IX Indian Education programs, the National Indian Training and Research Center, Nueva School, other local high and middle schools, Los Gatos CA school district, San Mateo County board of education, the American Indian Alliance of San Jose, the American Indian Center of Santa Clara County, and the City of San Jose. Here are a few photos of some of these successful programs.
 |
Ableza's Artistic Director, Diane Way. Costumes by Richard Sanchez. Photos courtesy of Megan Chesnut |
||
 These performances were part
of F.A.C.Y.T. (First Americans Conservatory
Youth Theatre.) |
 |
This play involves young people learning about the traditional uses of tobacco, as opposed to the dangerous abuses of smoking or chewing tobacco, and of second-hand smoke. "Breath of Life" premiered at Laney College in Oakland, was performed at the American Indian Film Festival Awards Night at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, and toured the area during pow wow season. Other youth dramatic productions available from Ableza include "Touching the Earth," dealing with HIV/AIDS awareness in a culturally-sensitive way.
"Putting
Art in its Place," an outdoor mural project where we placed
local youth who had been involved in "tagging" and graffiti
with a professional outdoor artist to create a permanent mural
at a local high school. This project was funded by the City of
San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs and by many private donations.It was very successful and led to at least two of the youth participants deciding to pursue a career in the arts! Click the picture above for more.
 |
Some of Ableza's youth talent at Pow Wow. |
|
|
 |
 |
shooting "The Drum and the Mask" |
|
1996 World Indigenous People's Conference: Education |
 |