No Mud No Lotus - how I stopped worrying and learned to die

Poetry, performance, post-show chat

In Buddhist philosophy, there are three things we cannot avoid in life: Ageing, Illness and Death. In an earlier performance, "It could have been me," Stephen Levine tried to come to terms with ageing and illness. Now, it is time to deal with death.

"no mud, no lotus": the beautiful lotus flower can only grow in a swamp. Similarly, if we want to live fully, we must face its end.

Stephen Levine and Sara Porter have been working together for close to a decade through song, movement, music, and poetry. This latest presentation follows on the 2019 show, "It could have been me!", a solo presented by Stephen based on the memoir and movement work he has done with Sara over the past decade.

Location: Intergalactic Arts Collective Studio (IGAC), 180 Shaw Street, #103

Date: Friday, May 8, 2026

Time: 7:30pm

Stephen Levine is a leader in the field of expressive arts therapy. Together with Ellen Levine, he founded the CREATE Institute in Toronto, a three-year training program in expressive arts therapy. He was also professor in the Social and Political Thought Department at York University in Toronto and a founding faculty member at the European Graduate School (EGS).

Sara Porter is an internationally celebrated choreographer, writer, performer, and educator. She creates multidisciplinary performance through considering the body as a site for research into memoir through movement. Through her company Sara Porter Productions, she supports a wide range of artists to build creative work through play, multidisciplinary exploration and humour. Her newest work – HELLO SUNSHINE – will premiere in summer 2026. saraporter.ca

Created and performed by Stephen Levine with Sara Porter

Creative support - Katherine Duncanson

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Host or Publisher Sara Porter Productions