"Imagine then a dancer who, after long study, faith and inspiration, has attained such a degree of understanding that her body is simply the luminous manifestation of her soul; whose body dances in accordance with a music heard inwardly, in an expression of something out of another, profounder world. This is the truly creative dancer; natural but not imitative, speaking in movement out of herself and out of something greater than all selves."
Isadora Duncan
The Philosopher's Stone of Dancing, 1920

arriving at Hollins with many questions
acquiring many answers over the past four years
answer to questions I didn’t even have
gaining experience and knowledge
leading me to new avenues and to new questions
asking questions of what life is about…what fuels the engine and what ignites my passion for movement
searching for my identity as a young woman and dancer
finding out that they complete each other
and are one in the same
merging the body, mind, and spirit, thinking of it as one

Within my body lies truth.
Transformation, manifestation of the soul
I consider it alchemy.

al·che·my n.
1. A medieval chemical philosophy having as its asserted aims the transmutation of base metals into gold, the discovery of the panacea, and the preparation of the elixir of longevity.
2. A seemingly magical power or process of transmuting: “He wondered by what alchemy it was changed, so that what sickened him one hour, maddened him with hunger the next” (Marjorie K. Rawlings).

Movement is the catalyst for finding my answers. It is through moving my body that I am able to teach myself and learn about the world. Movement answers my questions and leads me to question more. Dance is an intellectual pursuit, I have discovered in my four years here…perhaps the most natural pursuit of knowledge that extends from the womb throughout life. At Hollins I have found that dance as not just a body form, but an intellectual, thinking form…a pursuit of many kinds.My senior thesis includes two main aspects: teaching and performance. I chose not to choreograph, but rather to work on two solos with very different choreographers, Jennifer Nugent and Nathan Trice. The process of learning and rehearsing was fulfilling, but I am left questioning would it be more fulfilling if it were my own work? And why or why not? My own work is about “owning” the two solos and fulfilling the extremely different types of movement. Why does this not seem as redeeming as making my own work? I feel as if this is an issue we, those of us who choose to dance rather than choreograph, face throughout the dance world and throughout our dance careers. Will I dance for someone who’s work I do not like? Will that force me to have to make my own work, even though I am a dancer and not a choreographer? These are the questions I am left with at the end of my process


My Advice to Others
take advantage of guest artists, they are amazing people and it’s a small world, you never appreciate what you have until you leave it behind, not letting the environment we have worked so hard to create die, not giving in because we know alchemy exists, believe, believe in yourself, believe in your classmates, respect your elders, as my mom says “You bloom where you are planted” – she was right, look it up, there are so many things I have resisted and still resist about hollins, but in hindsight those things are every single one of the reasons I am here, don’t let go of that

To the members if HRDC…thank you for all your smiles and encouragement, for so many late night rehearsals, feedback sessions that last til midnight, fundraisers, selling ads, the list goes on. These are just a very few of many many memories and thank you’s I have…Ashley-thanks for all your smiles and stories about your cats Bri-thanks, if I ever work at j crew again I’ll give you my discount, I’ll be in touch about my future talk show, Kim-thanks for all your help, especially laying the floor, you are so pink Sophia-I am leaving my “vintage” gap t-shirt in your hands, promise me you will take care of it, thanks for all those long philosophical talks in the cafeteria Becca-thanks for your smiles and all your care and hard work you do for us Jenn McGinn-I sure will miss your laugh, thanks for those insanely long talks in the cafeteria (3am) , your love and knowledge of ballet, I appreciate it so much, you have no idea Danielle-cafeteria talks, good luck with all your teaching Elizabeth-purple ADA spud, the ability to chat and do Pilates with me at the same time, and your great sense of fashion Tosha- thanks for the sled ride of a lifetime in the snow Jen Scworm-we miss you Meredith-thanks for listening and never judging, thanks for our endless conversations on IM and on the phone, ADF NY, adventures with Nathan and Dfaye, and all your support, i love you Alysha-bright smile and beautiful commanding voice Susan-my curly haired twin, I will miss you so much, I can’t wait to see where life takes you, I love you Ellen-thanks for your enthusiasm, support and kind words, and for your wonderful uncontrollable tears. AnnLiv-thanks for believing in me and most importantly helping me to believe in myself. no words could ever say enough or show how deeply I love you. Thanks for everything. Jillian-thanks for caring, listening, having an amazing wardrobe and fabulous blue pumps, it means a lot to me. No, really, thanks. You would do that anyway. I love you. Maria-my roomate in Cannes, it’s been a long four years, maybe I will see you in New York? Thanks for visiting Doug with me Chris-I wish you much luck Isabel-thanks for driving and Happy late Birthday, see you in NY Erika-thanks for laughing with me, at me, or at yourself, not always sure which it is, and for all of our conversations in the monotony of the dark room. Thanks for your support and concerns. When can I learn your variation? I’ll give you makeup lessons in exchange Vanessa-thank you thank you for all your hard work on the website, the program and more Amy-thanks for your friendship, smile, and being the one other person whom I can talk to about ballet with (alongside jenn mcginn) Emily-I’ll miss our numerous plots to get to Jersey, ring night and mark haim love you so much, learn the goldberg variations for your senior project and invite me please Angie-thank you thank you for always laughing with me, it means so much to me, hope you had a blast doing ring night, please don’t knock anymore toilets over SaraBeth-I will truly miss your laughter and enthusiasm. Your sensitivity is so beautiful and your sense of humor out of control, thank you. Chris L.-glad you could be with us, thanks for makin’ music with and for us. You are all so very unique and beautiful in so many ways, thank you for teaching me and helping me to grow with you. I will miss you more than you will ever know.

HDP-Sara, Melissa, Jesse, thanks for carving a path, giving me inspiration, and being people that I respect and admire so much, thank you for everything

Dfaye- I could fill the page or 500 pages, no words could ever say enough, thank you thank you thank you, four years has come and gone, I sure will miss our road trips and crazy times in New York, of course it’s not over, I love you

Wayne Markert and Cynthia Woolbright-thank you for all your support!

To My Family-Mom-there will never be enough words to express how I feel, thanks again for your selflessness and everlasting support Michael-thank you for your support, for talking to me late at night, advice sessions, and for introducing me to skiing, what’s next? Betsy-I love you, thank you for being my sister, my mother, and my friend all at the same time, thanks for having the same smile and the same laugh, for being 10 yrs older so you can give me advice after you experience it first Dad-THANK YOU, I couldn’t have done this without you, thanks for putting up with my crazy hours and dancing schedule especially during j-terms, and most of all for laughing with me Debbie-thank you for so many talks and words of wisdom, opinions and advice, for morning walks and Trader Joe’s bags FULL of food, you rock! Becca-your crazy, funny im conversations, snuggling in the heavenly bed together and singing to Pink in the car, and your straightforward opinions, especially about my hair! Jenn Nugent-thank you for believing in me and for all your time and energy we put into this piece. I am sad it has come to an end, but maybe it’s just the beginning. Thank you, it means a lot to me.Nathan Trice-thank you Miguel-thanks for all your positive energy and encouragement, for believing in me or helping me to believe in myself

NEFA- to all of you amazing artists, past and present Nefites I write these thank you’s in hope that we will meet again in the future to blow the world away with our passions. Thanks for endless days and late nights of laughing, long talks, pondering, and PARTIES!!! Jams on the porch, the best theme parties ever- HELLO, drunken nights in margee’s bed, cake fights, Eddie’s kareoke, dancing in the cafeteria cause that’s a requirement right, hangin’ with miss dee, sippin beer through a straw…not a good idea, NEFA meetings, annliv peeing or us peeing b/c we’re laughing so hard, and most of all putting up with my “pantless” days and nights…jenny- my agent, where were you when I had to write my bio, thanks for all those late night talks about art and why we do what we do, you’re an amazing artist I wish you much luck, ewo- I’ll be on you doorstep pantless tomorrow I SWEAR, and shirtless if you play the North Carolina song, I’ll even throw it around like a helicopter, your photo collection rocks, but please don’t ever give any of those away when I become famous Jess-I miss you and your amazing clothes collection , please don’t ever fall in the tub pantless without me again, you’ll’s buttons rock my world and you better still talk to me when you become famous, ps-do you have anymore of mrytle’s clothes? erin- you’re amazing, I promise I won’t commit suicide like anne sexton and if I do I will make sure to invite you heather-the best roomate ever, thanks for everything, late night talks and singalongs, I wish you so much luck in all that you do Margee-aka switzerland, thanks, you have no idea how much I appreciate it, and for all the nights of listening to me and giving me advice, thank you laura- you have missed my most modest year, you would be proud, wish you were here, we miss you. I wish you all so much luck in all that you do and with that I leave you all, keep the spirit alive and the fire burning. I love you all so very much. In the words of Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead, What a long strange trip it’s been…Disclaimer: If I forgot anyone please do not hold me accountable, it does not mean I don’t love and appreciate you, it means I see you so often I forgot I needed to tell you how I feel.

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