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Karolyn Owens, Aliyah Beckles and Ulana Romanish of Simcoe Contemporary Dancers in Sarah Kennedy's work in progress / Photo by Kennedy |
Normally, when I get an
assignment at school I have a theme or song ready to use and I’m choreographing
within minutes. This project was not like that at all. I came into it having no
idea what I wanted to do.
It took me several weeks to discover
my idea and I realized that it was there the whole time.
I was given a task to start the choreographic process. I was asked
to observe people in a public space and find something I was drawn to. While I
was observing, I began thinking about the stories and life experiences people
carry around with them day to day. I realized that everyone has so many stories
within them, affecting them and sometimes a driving force brings them together.
This idea was very interesting to me and I wanted to explore what that driving force
might look like in choreography.
With the help of the dancers we were able to achieve my vision. We
began with four stories - four life experiences. Each experience gives the dancer
a unique quality. The stories we worked with are about bullying, mental health issues,
loss, and a person whose achieves more power through the manipulation of others.
These four stories are drawn together by a force.
In rehearsal, with these stories, we started off with a
simple improvisation to help discover the movement. We then pieced together the
choreography from the improvisation material. The dancers were able to put
their own ideas into the choreography and help me out if I was stuck. I like
how our teamwork helped the piece develop.
Then, I had the pleasure of
watching my work in progress be performed as part of our annual Winterfest performance.
This was my first-time presenting work at a public event and I’m not going to
lie, I was very nervous. However, as the dancers performed, I suddenly felt
calm and happy that it all came together. It truly is the most amazing feeling
to watch the idea you nurtured become a dance and then to watch it be performed
so beautifully – To know you helped create it.
I am still working on the piece, molding and sculpting it. The force that
draws these stories together, I am unsure of right now but I will continue to
explore that concept as well. I’m not sure where it will all go but I’m excited
to continue discovering. I know what we create will be worth the wait.
This project has given me the opportunity to explore my own
creativity without restrictions. I have seen myself grow as dancer/choreographer
in a short number of weeks and I think that is the most amazing thing about this
whole project.
- Sarah Kennedy
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