With all that’s happening in Egypt now, I thought I’d post this picture of Ellen Stewart and I in Cairo at the foot of the great Pyramids in Giza around 1994.
It’s been about two weeks since Ellen passed away and I am finally able to embrace the future.  Ellen, or Mama as us La Mama babies affectionately referred to her as, was my theater mentor. At least that’s what I thought until had time to reflect these past two weeks. It turns out that nearly everything in my present daily life came about as a direct result of my working under her - my best friends, the shakuhachi, my family…all had their genesis with Ellen and her theater.

On Thursday Jan 13th, I was on my way to Jet’s Kindergarten class to do a lecure/demonstration with the shakuhachi. Just as I was walking in to the school, I received a phone call from my partner informing me of Ellen’s passing. I froze in my steps for a moment. Then I thought how am I going to get through this talk. But as I walked into the class and felt the effervescent energy of children, any apprehension quickly dissipated.

After wards, I knew that Ellen was there. Everything that she taught me about life took place in that class room. I can’t even begin to write about all that Ellen has shown me, all the world tours, the art, music, culture and people she introduced me to brought me to where I am today. I will recount some of these experiences over the next several blogs.

The only thing I can say for now is that the number one lesson seemed to be that of sharing. Or, possibly, how to find ways to love one another.

Namaste, Perry