'In times of struggle, art forms reach higher levels'

NEW YORK -- Union Square Park is nestled near the heart of New York City's Greenwich Village.\nStudents, skaters, bums and executives can be found talking, sleeping or reading the paper all within this acre-and-a-half of green space. \nThe scene is reminiscent of a tropical fish tank with individuals from all walks of life, but only one of these types of "fish" can make people gather with awe: the street performer.\nStreet performing is one of NYC resident Noah Todd's livelihoods. His desire to entertain came partly as a result of Sept. 11.\n"It kick-started me," Todd said. "It made myself, and others, realize that if you are not doing what you love, what the hell are you doing?"\nAside from having an opportunity to do what he loves, Todd likes to facilitate interaction between those who stop to watch.\n"Out here," he said, "you can pull two strangers out of the audience, make them share a laugh, and hug as a part of your performance. That would never happen otherwise." \nBreaking down the barriers between people comes as a personal goal for Todd. \n"It brings people out of their shells and breaks the separation between individuals," he said.\nBut Todd doesn't do this alone.\nJennifer Dinioa, who performs with Todd on a regular basis, also relates to street performing in this manner. But she said she feels it is also for herself as much as it is for the audience.\nWhile wiping the baby powder off her hands from a previous performance, she said that "performing helps (her) connect to the light side of existence and relate an exaggerated, humorous truth about living."\nDinioa said laughter in times of hardship is crucial, serving as a release for the day-to-day stresses people let bottle up. \n"In times of struggle, art forms reach higher levels and seem to have more profound meaning," Dinioa said. "It was a slap in the face to make me realize this is part of my role as a street performer. To help people cope with laughter"