video shot by Amber Fenton
My intention for this piece was to showcase my dance practice - which is a significant part of my identity. Taking inspiration from my experience abroad studying in Barcelona - where I was fortunate to participate in a few dance classes - I chose a specific song named Tessellate by the group Alt-J which invoked in me feelings of nostalgia, joy, and sorrow.
To realize this piece, I collaborated with my inspiring dance teacher and choreographer, William Gill. He created the piece tailored to my skills and indications I had provided him with on the style and feeling I wanted to emulate. The result is primarily in the style of modern dance, with hints of contemporary and “abstract” movement.
For the video, I collaborated with a fellow student, Amber Fenton, who does some work in film and photography. In order to capture the idea of reminiscence, I chose a simple color palette of black and white for the costume. The location was chosen for its simplicity as well as allusion to some of Chicago’s iconic loft buildings with exposed brick walls. Finally, the veil employed in the video was intended to represent the letting go of a part of my life, to make way for a new step. Just as the concept of nostalgia elicits a sense of longing and attachment to the past - as represented by the song - the dance itself is a means of evolution, a tool for joy and welcoming change in my life.