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| We CAMP Wait to See You Again!Hello Campers,We write to close out Camp Ensemble: A NET LA Regional Gathering which took place in Tovaangar – Tongva and Chumash land – this past May 2nd and 3rd. This re-emergence of NET following months of transformative work within the organization was made special by each of you, the Campers, and the extraordinary work of the Camp Counselors, Meena Malik, Patricia Garza, and Sam Morreale.Organized by the NET Producing Directors and Facilitation Teams, the intentionally intimate gathering was designed to explore our commitment to care for each other; a way to reconnect with members past, present, and future. A way to honor your contributions and determination in sustaining Ensemble Theater and Collaborative Practice through the complex, challenging recent years. We wanted to feed you and celebrate your determination and all that you hold. We sought to raise up the power of hope and begin a process of working together more closely to advocate for our needs, the visibility of our practices, and the necessity of mutual aid and solidarity economies for our future. We desired to share stories around a fire, and amplify the wisdom that sparked extraordinary Lighting Talks from members of our community.It was a gorgeous time together. |
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| Photos by Sean Daniels | DVR ProductionsIt all began with a long journey up a winding canyon— and whether you took the shuttle or your own car, we all landed around the fire at sunset in Topanga with the relational check in prompt: “share one thing you never share when you first meet someone.” The stories told were playful, powerful, poignant. Who could ever forget the shitnado or the poop in the skyscrapers? |
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| We continued to deepen our connections around the dinner table with prompt: What system, process, or ensemble practice are you currently questioning? Definitely food for thought.We closed the evening by gathering in the cabin to open into collective visions for the future that you have been historically told are not possible. But in that cabin, we planted them together.On the following morning in Little Tokyo, campers were greeted with affirmation cards, then gathered at a table for the grounding and opening activities. Our host, Great Leap Executive & Artistic Director, DeLa, guided us through the history of Little Tokyo, and the connections that were seeded by and deepened through the impact that past NET gatherings have had on them. |
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| In an exercise from Applied Mechanics’ world building workshop, we built societies in a world based on one of NET’s Strategic objectives: Federation Building partnerships, labor, Mutual Aid and Solidarity Economy. Together we made manifestos built from those societies, abstracted into speculative fiction away from the bustle of everyday life, but grounded in the values of mutuality. We witnessed ensemble at play. Play that is heartening and necessary as we all do the hard work of strengthening a network of care and creativity.We attended lightning talks hosted by you campers on topics like Community Assembly, Landscape Dramaturgy, Sound Painting, Ollin, Power, Catharsis, and Revolutionary Love. |
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| We absolutely feasted, thanks to local Los Angeles BIPOC vendors, including Chef Jonathan and from friends at Azay, a renowned family-owned Japanese restaurant in Little Tokyo, right across the street from our Day 2 Campsite, Union Center For The Arts.With our hearts, bodies, and minds fed we closed around the incredible NET GARDEN installation created by Scarlett Kim and Anthony Storniolo from the Center for Unclassifiable Technologies and Experiences, in a ritual led by Meena Malik.The garden was a dome shaped net interwoven with materials and objects from our homes and lives and in the Garden were blooming flowers of provocation, questions, offerings, and remembrances that we created and gathered throughout our time together. One object touched all of us so deeply as it read: “this is what I used to clean my mother before she passed”. |
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 STAY CONNECTED…We are craving to hear what resonated and still is sticking to your bones. We invite you to take a moment to fill out this survey – your feedback will help shape our next steps. You can also use the survey to sign up for the Regional Gathering Planning Committee. Our next gathering is set for Spring 2026 in the Bay Area! |
| WHAT WE KNOW WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTERAs with any event, there are always things we wish we had done differently. This time, we fell short in two key areas—accessibility and equitable inclusion.Our outdoor sound lacked proper AV amplification in both Topanga and UCFA, and limited lighting in Topanga left some in the dark. We’re grateful to Anthony, who stepped in with their portable mic and speaker.We also acknowledge that we did not do enough to ensure our Indigenous, AAPI, and Black partners, members, and community could participate fully in ways they wanted and needed. As an all-People of Culture team, we don’t take this lightly. We believe it is important to name accountability and to ensure we take more intentional action moving forward.We share this to recognize what went wrong and reaffirm our commitment to doing better. |
| View the participant gallery and contact sheetStay In Touch, Reach Out, & Collaborate! |
 Event Highlights Next Up…Collaboration Pitch Session – May 13thArtistic Practice Workshop – May 27thCAMP ENSEMBLE, VIRTUAL Edition– May/June 2025Artistic Practice Workshop – August 5thSummer Event Registration Coming Soon!Regional Gathering Planning Committee Meetings – Let us know in the feedback survey if you are interested in participating in the following meetings to plan the next NET Regional Gathering:May 30th at 4pm PTAugust 22nd at 4pm PTOctober 17th at 4pm PTSign up here to check in on the phone with us through our Calls For Connection project  Sign up to be a NET member here. …In Community,NET Producing Directing Team, Facilitators, and Shared Leadership |
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