Sami Hussain Ismat

Biography

Profile:

I am a Research-Practitioner in Performance & Theatre, hailing from Damascus, Syria. As a proud refugee, I channel my passion into arts, culture, community building, and sports, fostering inclusive spaces that celebrate diversity and intersectionality.

Artistic Approach:

My artistic projects deconstruct prevailing narratives concerning ethnicity, identity, and the profiling & racialization of bodies. I utilize interdisciplinary methods, drawing inspiration from contemporary performance art, physical theatre, documentary practices, ethnography, and choreography to ignite public dialogues. My journey is an amalgamation of artistic expression, academia, and community advocacy, all directed towards reshaping narratives and nurturing deeper understanding. I have directed and conceived projects such as Was Dinner Good, Dear Sister? (Steppenwolf LookOut), Lemon & Oil (Pivot Arts Festival), and Every Time I Step Towards Freedom (Defibrillator/Zhou B Art Center), among others. As a performer, I have engaged in multiple collaborative works such as New Normal by Jonas Becker at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and Atlas Unlimited by Karthik Pandian and Andros Zins-Browne at Logan Center Exhibitions and Graham Foundation. You can explore my work in more detail on my website: Visit my website

Teaching Philosophy:

My teaching philosophy and pedagogy center around fostering a classroom environment rooted in community, care, and collaboration. Guided by the theories of Bell Hooks and Michel Foucault, I believe in dismantling hierarchical power dynamics. I promote knowledge construction as a collective effort, using innovative pedagogical approaches. I emphasize decolonization through practices like un-grading, self-reflective learning process, and Liz Lerman's Critical Response Process, while prioritizing embodied and intellectual practices encourages a brave learning space that is student-centered. I've embraced flexible modalities over the years to reduce barriers and ultimately empower students to become collaborative, intercultural producers and support their success through inspiration, care, and resource provision.

Research Focus:

My research is centered around the intersectionality of performance, memory, trauma, and collective cultural consciousness. My primary focus is on disrupting established narratives and perspectives, particularly through disorienting narratives and gazes. I have conducted teaching, workshops, and delivered lectures at both national and international institutions. Additionally, I have contributed as a cultural consultant and dialect coach for productions at Silk Road Rising and Steppenwolf Theatre.

Academic Published Writings:

Ismat, Sami. Little Syria by Omar Offendum, Ronnie Malley, Thanks Joey. Arab Stages, volume 14, 26 November 2023.

Ismat, Sami. Layalina written by Martin Yousif Zebari, directed by Sivan Battat. Arab Stages, Volume 14, 17 March 2023.

Ismat, Sami, “Deconstructing Myths via Performance Strategies: Experiences of a Contemporary Practitioner.” Deconstructing the Myths of Islamic Art, London, edited by Onur Öztürk, Xenia Gazi, Sam Bowker: Routledge, March 21, 2022 pp. 199-212

Academic Background:

My academic journey includes earning an MFA in Performance Art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an MFA in Theatre Directing from East 15 Acting School in the UK, where I was honored as a Said Foundation Scholar

Degrees

B.A., Mass Communication American University of Sharjah 2013
M.F.A., Theatre Directing University of Essex 2016
M.F.A., Performance Art School of The Art Institute of Chicago 2020