Artist Statement
As a dance maker, my inherent desire to create is rooted in instinct and survival; I choose particular compositional forms to sculpt my idea(s). The form and content that I use is based on the theme of the project and varies from piece to piece. I also tend to experiment with different genres such as video or theatre to help keep things interesting and new. As of late, I have been exploring the use of theatricality, voice and acting to help convey an idea. I see dance more as a thread that interweaves storylines, scenarios, and plots rather than it being the focal point. I am interested in storytelling more than dance for dance sake.
I believe that my role as an artist is to ask questions. Drawn to topics that I am personally struggling with, I intuitively try to problem solve and make meaning of them through the creation of new work. I enjoy pushing the envelope and have come to acknowledge that I feel most alive and engaged when instigating a dialogue whether that be through conversation, creation of work or improvising. I am a poker and prodder and feel comfortable with struggle and controversy in hopes to shine a light on the big picture. In fact I feel more at ease when disharmony is accepted in order to allow truth(s) to convey themselves. In life I question ignorance, lack of acceptance and mercy which crosses over into my art making. Ultimately I am attempting to chisel away at a problem or issue. Art making seeping into my personal belief system is what makes it interesting and worthwhile for me.
Conceptually speaking, my work has focused on the deconstruction and abstraction of social and political issues through the development of highly physical and idiosyncratic movement material. My work addresses different states and stages of the human condition, primarily focusing on and questioning preconceived notions of women’s roles within society. I aim to highlight and amplify particular qualities through a lens of judgment and misogyny in hopes to shed light and initiate a dialogue of what it means to be a woman in today’s society. Compositionally I do this by placing certain qualities or qualitative sections side by side in a linear or abstract, collage-like format in order to analyze the differences and similarities. During the rehearsal process, I intertwine theatrical, gestural, and highly physical elements within a structured improvisational setting, while working collaboratively with my dancers (when I have the luxury to do so) in order to develop movement material.
Another major theme that runs through my work is the disconnection between individualism and homogeny. I am curious as to what drives people towards social norms and uniformity or down a different path of possible authenticity. Human psychology is fascinating to me and I attempt to touch base with that in every project that I work on. Choreographically speaking, I try to do that by juxtaposing virtuosic movement phrases and obsessively repetitive gestures with everyday movements and tasks in hopes to mirror habitual patterns, neurosis, and change. I strive to elicit raw emotion, vulnerability, rebellion, and self- awareness.
