Setting a New Stage
Welcome to SIEDC’s Setting a New Stage Blog! We’re happy you’re here!
We want a new future for dance, which requires quite a lot of discussion. More importantly, we want you to join the conversation, too. Feel free to comment on anything you see, and let’s get talking!
Woman, Life, Freedom, and Dance; A Conversation with Iranian Artist Shahrzad Hamzeh
A few weeks ago, I sat down and spoke with Iranian artist Shahrzad Hamzeh. In a very vulnerable and personal testimony, they unpack the dimensions of what the current events mean for Iranian women.
SIEDC NEWS: “Hurricane 6” to Premiere May 21st
SIEDC’s next dance film, Hurricane 6, focuses on a fateful hurricane. Dedicated to the women who rebuilt after the storm of 1933, Hurricane 6 is a tribute to the community of Ocean City and Assateague–and much more.
The Experience of a Black Dancer at a PWI
Being a black student at a PWI, or a Predominately White Institution, is different for everyone. Personally, my 1st year at a PWI was an absolute culture shock.
I grew up in a predominantly black area. This doesn’t mean I didn’t have any white friends or didn’t interact with white people in my hometown; it just means that living in an area that is mostly white, republican, and racist is opposite to how I grew up, and can be very intimidating. When I chose this college, it was mostly because I witnessed the personal relationship teachers share with their students; I wanted that for me. It’s a small department, so naturally there’s more chances to get individualized attention, corrections, and feedback.
So I thought…
Behind the Curtain: Throwing out Old-School Dance Teaching Styles
As an outsider looking in, dance is beautiful, mesmerizing, athletic, and unequivocally entertaining. As a dancer, it’s all those things— and more. However, dance is not all tutus and twirls. Behind the curtain, dance is a demanding artform that pushes dancers to mental and physical limits.
Behind each dancer is an ability to persevere— despite whatever harsh circumstances we may face. Aside from demanding training, dancers systemically face abuse. Unfortunately for us, it’s very normalized across the industry; and as more of the abuse comes to light, it’s time to reflect…