ists participating are the internationally acclaimed Belarus Free Theater ; Palesa Mazamisa from South Africa ; Ranan from India ; Roman Viktyuk Theatre from Russia ; RAAAM Theater Group of Estonia ; Manuel Vignoulle from France ; Matara from Israel ; New York-based Sidra Bell Dance ; Los Escultores del Aire from Spain , and Haeboma from South Korea . “ Many of the artists and groups we are inviting are acclaimed in their home countries as well as internationally ,” says Olga Levina , the artistic director of the Jersey City Theater Center . “ Their work is a direct response to the state of our world and the need for greater equity and unity . Their stories are eloquent , forceful and often surprising , and their messages and testimony are riveting and shattering . They deserve as wide an audience as we can give them .” Several of the companies chosen would not otherwise be able to travel to the United States , for a variety of reasons . Because their performances will be staged and livestreamed from their home-base theatres , the companies will share not just the perspectives and rich performative content of their most mature work , but also the context in which they create their work . “ We are very interested in sparking a far-reaching conversation with this festival ,” adds Levina . “ Of course the voices of the different groups will interact and combine with one another , but it is crucial for the participants to enter a conversation with the host city and the diverse local audience we nurture at JCTC . That is why our partnerships with the City of Jersey City , and with organizations throughout New Jersey , and even on-theground neighborhood groups and individual artists are so important . We want the conversations of 2020 Voices to be uniquely inclusive , local and global .”