Dance has always been a part of my life from seeing my sisters dancing onstage as young child. I am priviliged to have a career in ballet, that has brought me around the world and exposed me to new cultures, ideas, and ways of expressing myself. I find dance to be both a great physical challenge and also a way of healing and moving through emotional and mental challenges as well.
In a field that is predominately eurocentric it can sometimes feel overwhelming to navigate systems of power that influence this field. I navigate belonging in this feild by staying grounded in what is authentic and true for me knowing that not everyone will understand the embodied experience of exisitng as an outsider.
When I am performing for others it becomes a recipricol relationship between me and the audience. The public of any size invites the opportuinity to share. They give me energy and attention and in return I try to transform that energy into a an expression that will hopefully transport them somewhere. There is always a major shift for me to be able to perform for others and I sense and hope that we both gain something from that experience.
I began ballet training at Cary Ballet Conservatory. I spent my final year of high school at North Carolina School of the Arts in 2010. I trained at Pacific Northwest Ballet School as a professional division student from 2010-2012.
Waggle Ballet is a research-based work that explores possibilities of increasing access to ballet for audience members with vision impairments. In this lecture performance I present my work done in collaboration with other artists and sound designers. This research and performance was facilitated and funded by the Barrett Honors College, Arizona State University.
Photos from moments of preparation, in the studio, on stage and behind the scenes
