choreographic research
artist statement
The transcendence of movement from solely a visual spectacle to encompass knowledge creation and transfer is uniquely present within dance performance. As an artist, I strive to become not just an object of the gaze but to supersede spectacle and embrace humanistic emotions and experiences. This requires a holistic view of the body encompassing both physical prowess and intellectual curiosity. In my practice, I excavate artistic expression by embracing unique performative qualities in correlation with a deep sense of embodiment and understanding of space. I emphasize the value of process and building community through that process. I seek to foster an environment where experimentation and collaboration feed into the work leaving space for meaning to be derived from the artists in a way that is personal to them as individuals. The mental and physical stamina cultivated from this work builds a foundation of physical and emotional support as well as self-sustaining, intrinsic motivation for growth. I wish for those who witness the work to leave with the same sense of curiosity and connection to community.
choreographic gallery
you, me, and the person I want you to see
you, me, and the person I want you to see is a work created for the American College Dance Association and The University of Akron Dance Company. This work explores the intersection of performance and identity. How do we define authenticity through the frame of performance both on the stage and in the world.
...but first
but first… (2024) is a work created for The University of Akron Dance Company. The work represents weaving of perceptions from both the community and individual point of view. It explores how we mold our identities based on our environment and what we can offer a space.
if i ___, would you ___?
if i ____ , would you ___? is a work created for The University of Akron Dance Company in Spring 2023. This work embraces the moment before change. The moment where we are suspended in questions of “what if” / “what next” and look toward our community for support. Knowing that whatever happens in this next step… their guidance, reassurance, encouragement, and love will endure
enmeshed
enmeshed is a work created for The University of Akron Dance Company in Fall 2022. The work explores how the air we share connects us as a community. Much like the mycelial network underground, how does our air serve as a communication tool between us? The industrial fan in this work serves as both a visual and physical representation of this communication tool that connects all living things.
“A mycelial network is a map of a fungus’ recent history and is a helpful reminder that all life forms are in fact processes not things. The “you” of five years ago was made different from stuff than the “you” of today. Nature is an event that never stops” – Merlin Sheldrake, Entangled Life
the space between
the space between is a work created for The University of Akron Dance Company in Spring 2022. This work is a reflection of the incredible dance community within The University of Akron. There is strength, tenderness, care, and endless support for one another. I am curious how sharing space with one another fosters community and relationships.
They Say They See Me
They Say They See Me is a work created as part of my MFA thesis from The University of Iowa in Spring 2019. It seeks to reveal the navigation of a performer’s identity and sense of self within a concert dance framework. Using myself in the position of the performer, I analyze my own performative habits and conditioned responses to dance performance and then utilize performative and choreographic strategies to break those habitual pathways. I use my position as both choreographer and performer to uncover aspects of my identity that are hidden under conditioned performative responses. I situate the spectatorship of the audience as the key factor in my habit to conceal parts of myself. From this process, I hope to complicate the spectacle nature of dance performance and re-pattern the way the audience connects to their gaze while also taking command of my own identity within the performance space.
a quiet breath: a walk for one
a quiet breath: a walk for one is a work commissioned for Lindenwood University in St. Louis, Missouri. This work was created entirely over zoom due to social distancing restrictions. The work utilizes seeks to embolden the performer to claim space and be wide. The female gender identity of the performer explores the embodiment of that identity within the stage performance space and in society. The hope is to explore performance as a means to actualize.
C L A I M
C L A I M is a work created for The Cleveland Dance Festival and was also shown at Take Up Space in Chicago. The pedestal: a symbol of respect or a means to restrict through visual consumption? C L A I M seeks to uncover the precarious nature of the pedestal and show the restricting of space that occurs when we put a woman on a pedestal. What happens when women are free to claim their own undefined, space?