Individual Artist Project

This project invites people that would not typically gravitate to one another to become united by a newfound vulnerability and understanding. Artists and veterans may not realize that they have a lot in common at first glance, but they come to learn that their emotions have the same impact: fear, anger, sorrow, celebration. They also discover a shared outlet and need for creative expression. Additionally, an audience of the community unites and learns from the stories of these participants. The result creates conversation, sharing, and understanding. These golden elements evolve into a forward thinking and more accepting audience and community. ; My goal is to create at least 3 new choreographic works that tell the stories of a local veteran(s) through dance and potentially other art forms such as spoken word, music, and visual art to be performed in Minnesota Ballet's Studio Four theater that is open to the public. The Veteran and dancer participants will show growth and impact by being a part of this process and performance. This is measurable through during meetings and rehearsals, their performance and by feedback during a post performance talkback, which also includes the audience's feedback. The performance program will describe at length, the experiences that occurred during the project, from first meeting to final performance. This will paint a clear and full picture of the impact of the body of work for the audience to fully appreciate the content of the performance. Finally, I intend to stay connected with the participants of the project, nurturing the friendship and observing their future experiences. I have experience with community collaborations, including working with veterans, from my past work. I have co-directed, co-created, and been closely involved in the development of past, similar projects, utilizing art as a healing tool. The impact of my past collaborative works, and the feedback I received afterwards has made it clear to me that art continues to have important purposes during times which are so challenging for so many. I am a former professional ballet dancer, and current teacher, coach, and choreographer. I am incredibly passionate about the beautiful aesthetic and expressiveness of dance and the greater impact of art on our community. My past choreographic works have ranged from simple, musical interpretation, and evolved to telling veterans' traumatic stories of abuse and violence through dance. I sincerely look forward to the opportunity to share my next collaboration and the healing power of art in Duluth.; As mentioned above, feedback from participants and the audience will tell me the outcome of the work. The applause, the emotional response from the veterans, dancers, and audience will inform me about how deeply they have been impacted. I will ask everyone present at the performance: veterans, dancers, family, audience members, to stay after the performance has finished for a talkback discussion to gather information and statements about what was experienced during the process: initial meeting to performance. All feedback is recorded (with participants' permission) and archived.