upcoming grant deadline: 05/15/2024

upcoming grant deadline: 05/15/2024

Michele Tayoun

Micheletayoun

Michele has performed and taught Middle Eastern dance throughout the region for the past 17 years in schools, day camps, concert halls and community centers. She has recently started exploring Arabic vocals as well. The emotional and aesthetic power of Arabic music and dance, from the oud, nay, Arabic violin, and tabla to the debke (traditional folk dances) and raqs sharqee (popularly known as belly dance) has influenced her sense of creativity, beauty and love. Michele’s art grows out of her musical Lebanese-American family and the Lebanese community in South Philadelphia in which she grew up. Her entire life as an artist, she has been proud of her art and artistic heritage, while also carrying the burden of stereotypes about Middle Eastern women in particular. Her art includes educational components to help encourage people to view women performers differently and to provide a contrast to the mainstream media that puts forth negative images that reduce centuries of splendid and complex cultures into stereotypes. Her work is that of breaking down barriers, helping people see how cultures, traditions and artistic practices influence and complement each other. This is illustrated in her work with the ensemble, Herencia Arabe (meaning Arab heritage in Spanish), a collaboration between flamenco and Arabic musicians and dancers. This group was created to show the shared roots between these two traditions.

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Leeway grant?

Window of Opportunity Grant

The Window of Opportunity (WOO) grant provides financial assistance of up to $1,500 to Leeway grant and award recipients to help them take advantage of imminent, time-sensitive opportunities to support their art for social change practice. The Community Care Fund (CCF) provides financial assistance of up to $1,250 to Leeway grant and award recipients to support with immediate and essential emergency needs. [read more]

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Upcoming events
04/025:30 pm - 7:00 pm

4/2 Transformation Award (LTA) Awardee Panel + Info Session (In Person)

Have questions about the application process for the Leeway Transformation Award (LTA)?

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04/185:30 pm - 6:30 pm

4/18 Transformation Award (LTA) Info Session (Virtual)

Have questions about the application process for the Leeway Transformation Award?

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