Choreography

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My piece “Both Sides” is a collaboration and exploration of dance and American Sign Language (ASL). The inspiration for this piece came from my step-mom. My step-mom is deaf, and doesn’t have many opportunities to enjoy dance and theatre because there are often no interpreters at shows. I wanted to find a way for her and the deaf community to feel represented in the arts and also be able to have an impactful experience from them. I am not deaf myself, and cannot experience or assume what it is like to be deaf, but the song, Both Sides Now, in particular challenges me to put myself in the shoes of someone who is. My goals for this piece was to blend dance and the beautiful language that is ASL, invite hearing people into the world of ASL, and to give the deaf community art that was made for them.