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Sami H

- Research Program Mentor

MFA at School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Expertise

Interdisciplinary Arts, Acting, Film, Theatre, Performance, Documentary, Dance, Creative Writing, Photography

Bio

I am an interdisciplinary researcher-practitioner in performing arts who writers, creates performances, theatre and film. My projects focus on practice based research, anthropology, ethnography, dance, and experimental forms of drama. I have been a professor for 3+ years and a freelance artist for more than 10 years. I am interested in all topics related to media, culture, politics, philosophy, and entertainment. I spend my free time playing video games, coaching football (soccer) as well as playing sometimes, and exercising.

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Solo Performance/Acting Monologues

Creating a solo piece of video, theatre or performance art based on a conceptual idea that explores a personal, social or political subject. The process of the project can be based in writing or on research into any type of source material. This type of project could be helpful to anyone wanting to audition, build an artistic portfolio or applying for grants and scholarships or fellowship in film, theatre, performance or new media arts.

Research into Performance Techniques

Help in writing a research paper and analysis on techniques and traditions used in acting, dance, performance, and film/video. The paper can be conceptual and/or theoretical, with possible case studies as examples.

Documentary Film or Performance

Equipping and providing creative tools to that could guide a documentary process of filmmaking or performance making. The way one approaches a documentary project always influences and determines what is being documented, so understanding what type of approach work best in certain situations, while maintaining ethics, is key to a successful documentary project.

Languages I know

Arabic

Teaching experience

I have 5+ years of experience between teaching middle school, high school and university/college students in the US. I have lectured, mentored, and led workshops to students of all levels from those who haven't done art before to those who are working on senior thesis performances, to professionals in the field.

Credentials

Work experience

Columbia College Chicago (2020 - Current)
Assistant Professor
DePaul University & School of the Art Institute of Chicago (2021 - Current)
Adjunct Faculty
University of Chicago (2021 - Current)
Lead Instructor for Community Actors Program

Education

American University of Sharjah
BA Bachelor of Arts (2013)
Mass Communication
East 15 Acting School
MFA Master of Fine Arts (2016)
Theatre Directing
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
MFA Master of Fine Arts
Performance

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