Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

Growth : Apart :: Loss : Reconnection

My dance explores how people grow up and grow apart, but then losing someone brings them back together. In my dance, the dancers begin as individuals; then, they eventually meet one another and develop a friendship. Throughout the dance, the grow up and apart, which will be portrayed through spatial design. Once they grow apart, the idea of excuses or believing you have time to reach out and reconnect will be portrayed through dialogue within movement. As this portion of the dance heightens, there will be the sound of a growing heartbeat in the background to signify the arrival of a climax. One of the dancers will exit (pass away), and this will change the dynamic. Once she passes away, each of the remaining dancers will be distraught in different emotions that will be portrayed through movement and dialogue, as well. As they move through this demonstration of loss, the dancer who exited previously will reappear spiritually. She will affect them through movement without actually touching them. As she interacts with the other dancers, she will eventually lead them back together. The idea behind this sort of leaves a space to self-reflect about why we as humans often have to lose someone to realize that togetherness is necessary. Often, this happens with families, friends, workplaces, and more. It usually takes some traumatizing events to lead people to be together as one. This is a story inspired by the loss of my own loved one in my sophomore year of college. I decided to portray an observation made through movement. I also plan to use this to help me heal in my mourning process.