Voices of Young Dancers

CELEBRATING THE YOUNG ARTIST

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Reflections, drawings, poems, essays, and perspectives from young dancers around the country.

As a whole and emotional being, I have often felt the desire to be understood. I crave the validation that that comes from someone really “getting it." I want to know that my feelings are ok and safe, not too big, not too scary. However, I have also found that it can be very challenging to verbalize the complex whirlwind of thoughts, ideas, and feelings swirling around in my mind. This is where dance and choreography come into play. When words might not be enough, or don’t have the capacity to express the way I need them to, I turn to my body to help me with that expression. Dance is a form of nonverbal communication that can make you feel in ways that words cannot. It is different, and whatever you want it to be. Feelings, whether excited or happy, sad, or enraged, and anything in between have a way of presenting themselves in the body. For example, when I feel scared or anxious, I often feel constriction, or a tightness in my chest, or a hollowness in my stomach. I know many people (I think maybe everyone) also can feel some emotions present themselves in the physical body. It would make sense then that moving your body might help to move the feelings, and release tension. Dance makes me feel alive, present, and free like nothing else. It can be an escape from reality or an outlet to feel and express the weight of reality through moving and choreographing.

Lily, age 17, Barefoot Dance Center, West Park, NY

PATHWAYS CELEBRATED

Long narrow straight wide Never without a purpose Curved, zig-zag, high, low All have a job which may be slow

People, trees, plants, animals All have pathways Some created in the past All have a job which may be fast

Pathways need their own celebration They hold together all of creation

Neurons are linked by pathways Dendrites are the connectors Messages are sent with speed Which my mind might misread

Movement is key For my pathways to work for me Dance is the best way to train The pathways in our brain

Pathways need their own celebration They hold together all of creation

During covid we all used Fiber-optic pathways we made it work, glitches and all It’s even better than the mall.

Joel, age 20, non-speaking student, Creative Dance Center, Seattle, WA

Group collage on the theme of community by members of MOTUS Dance Company (ages 8 – 17) at Liz Borromeo Dance, Vancouver, WA

Project based on dance study of shape and groupings by student, age 9, at Liz Borromeo Dance, Vancouver, WA

Responses from students at the Creative Dance Center, Seattle, WA to the following question:

Reflect on what you appreciate about dancing in person in the studio, after taking class on zoom for 15 months. What new things have you noticed, or appreciated more, about dancing with others in the studio?

I enjoy how much more real everything and everyone feels now. People exist. I have to remember to not crash into them. I can talk to people without the awkwardness of muting and unmuting. People hear me when I laugh. – Vivian, age 14

What I appreciate about being back in person is being in the same space and being able to reach out and not have to stare at a screen. Also having live music.

– Eve, age 14

I missed relating and reacting to the other dancers in the room. Also being able to talk to other dancers throughout the class makes choreography more enjoyable because I’m more connected to people. I really enjoy having more space and live music. – Harper, age 14

I appreciate having the space to move around and being able to dance with other people. Being able to dance in groups in a 3D space is much nicer than a 2D zoom square. – Hannah, age 14

I can use physical contact with other people, move around in the same space, and I am able to create dances that can use different places in the space. – Marlaina, age 14

I really enjoy being able to feel everyone’s energy and being able to dance according to that. And having live music again is really nice.

– Ihara, age 15