"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music." ~Friedrich Nietzsche
Artist Statement
Dance is a form of expression the likes of which has yet to be replicated. It is true that there are several forms of art through which one may be able to express themselves, and for many there is one medium through which one may express themselves best, a medium to which no others compare. For me that medium is dance. A dancer is simultaneously art and artist. They create a work of art that only purely exists in that moment. This ephemeral moment is magic to many an audience member, and it is why I dance to express myself. As soon and the emotion is out there, it is gone and yet it lingers and remains reflected in the emotions of the viewers. The dance remains on the stage only for a fleeting moment, but the emotions created by it are capable of lasting much longer, of leaving with the audience instead of remaining on stage. To dance is to experience catharsis at its finest; to experience the release of a reservoir of emotion and to rise from the outpouring refreshed and renewed, cleaner than one was before. I seek to perform, to create, to experience and to share this catharsis with those who may not have another way of expressing or understanding emotions they feel. I aim to inspire an audience to feel comfortable with the emotions they may be experiencing. I desire to help young dancers understand how to express themselves of a level that they may not have ever experienced before, and thereby be able to create a release for them. I seek to instill in young dancers and audience members the desire to create and express their emotions just as those desires have been instilled in me, and in a healthy way. To dance comes as easily to me as to breathe. Every moment of stillness turns into choreography for me. Nietzsche said “And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music”. There are several people who have told me that dance is not the career that I should pursue, and I know that there will be several more people who tell me that there are ‘better’ options out there. These are the people who cannot hear the music, and it is their words that drive me all the more to dance. My passion for the art form is loud enough to drown out the negativity of those who do not understand what I do. I dance for myself first and foremost.