Artist Statement

A word from the choreographer, Rachel Levitt:

Using the above prompt, I decided to focus on the significance of why the narrator wants to... encourage this person to dance. What is important about dance during this time? How does it connect us? In what ways does it enhance our day to day lives?

To dive deeper into this subject, I have incorporated a quote and video from Anne Souder (soloist and online dance teacher with the Martha Graham Dance Company) that she has generously created specially for this piece.

The reason I felt compelled to reach out to the Martha Graham Dance Company, was because of the sheer volume and high quality of online classes they have provided to the public via Instagram live (March-April) and Zoom (May-present) during quarantine. I have learned so much from them these past number of months, and can genuinely say that their classes have been a great sense of joy among all this madness. Their commitment and passion for offering opportunities to stay connected as a dance community is something deserving of being celebrated through this work.

Because, ultimately, this piece was designed to be a ""time capsule"" of sorts. It captures this unique era when our living rooms are our dance studios, our home space our experimental playgrounds, our phones our videographers, and our teachers available through our technology. This strange time when even though there is so much fear and loneliness, we continue to find ways to dance together, and that makes a world of difference.

If you are watching this video while the pandemic continues, I hope it inspires you to get up and dance.

If you are watching this after the pandemic has passed, I hope that it brings back some good memories of dancing in a time of quarantine.


Credits...
-Choreographed by Rachel Levitt, with tap section by guest artist Avery Dupuis
-Starring Jasmine Huang, with Nicole Decsey and Avery Dupuis
-Guest appearance and quote by Anne Souder, soloist and online dance teacher with the Martha Graham Dance Company
-Song – Man! I Feel Like a Woman! by Shania Twain
(We do not own the music or the rights!)