“I loved everything related to this course… it is embedded in my consciousness, and till this day I still use the body preparation exercises we learned.” – Mohammad.
“I was deeply touched when people’s faces started to change from frowns to laughter when they watched what we were doing.” Fatima
The 2022–2023 cohort joined IIVVSS at a moment when Lebanon felt like one long improvisation exercise—electricity disappearing, prices somersaulting, and patience officially in short supply. They arrived with a spark that said, “If nothing works, we’ll invent our own systems—with bodies, voices, and whatever cardboard is lying around.”
They embraced the signature IIVVSS chaos and grew into adaptable performers who could create, listen, collaborate, and problem-solve in real time—whether in the studio, on the street, or in the middle of a national meltdown.
Then came Field Work.
We sent them into municipalities and community centers across the country, where they navigated the full Lebanese adventure: postponed rehearsals, vanished participants, surprise breakthroughs, and miracles happening five minutes after hope was lost. They co-created powerful work with youth groups, turning real stories into public performances and building communities of trust and creative expression.
By the end of their journey, this cohort carved a new chapter into the IIVVSS DNA: proving that resilience can be practiced, joy can be engineered, and young people will always find a way to step onto a tréteau—even in the darkest moments—to speak their truth with courage and imagination.
المعهد العالمي للدراسات الرصينة والرزينة 