Abstract
Having been fascinated with marine mammals for many years, I watched a lecture online by Dr. Jason Bruck. This inspired me to create a new choreographic work. Dr. Bruck shared his work, and that of Dr. Paige Stevens, in the form of access to their research, the dolphins, and sound files to assist in the creation of the sound score. I’m interested in how dolphins behave, recognize members and non-members of their groups, and take care of one another in feeding, birthing, and protection. These behaviors remind me of how people can and should behave in various societies across the world. According to psychologists today, there are unprecedented numbers of disconnected people, deaths of despair, and skyrocketing anxiety and depression. This choreography seeks to portray dolphin identity, movement patterns, and protective behaviors as a metaphor for healing the human condition. The movement idea was also influenced by the civil rights leader, John Lewis, who said, “… if we care for the Beloved Community, we must move our feet, our hands, our hearts, our resources to build and not to tear down, to reconcile and not to divide, to love and not to hate, to heal and not to kill…we are one people, one family…” After observing dolphins in Bermuda, the choreography emphasis evolved to include how human made noise affects dolphins, in alignment with Dr. Stevens’ work. Creating choreography that raises awareness of marine life while commenting on the human condition will hopefully increase interest in conservation of our planet.
Presenters
Haley Hoss JamesonAssociate Professor and Clinical Teaching Supervisor, School of Theatre and Dance, Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Human Impacts and Responsibility
KEYWORDS
Dophin Behavior, Human Behavior, Marine, Conservation, Dance, Lecture-Demonstration, Awareness
