What Hooke has found special about the process is watching all the movements that come out as people tell their stories. When you stand back and watch there is a lot of movement. Lerman discovered universal themes while working with the 17 Hallelujah Projects that extend from Maine to California. According to Lerman, land is a big issue whether you live on the coast of Maine or in Los Angeles. The people are concerned about the land.
People have the sensation that they don t control it or have enough time to affect it.
Crossing social boundaries is another universal issue. A project such as Hallelujah, where the collective energy and time of a group of people builds into a celebration, can be exhaustive for both the community and the Dance Exchange. We re putting together something mammoth in a short period of time. The townspeople are asked to work almost every day for two weeks before the dance. The Hallelujah Project is worth the effort.