Identity Within Community: An Explorative and Restorative Process Towards Accepting Oneself and Others

Inspired by the complexities of multiracial and multi-ethnic identity, this essay explores ideas of individuality and how it relates to larger communities. Research mediums included physical embodiment, personal experiences, social media, and collaborative movement improvisation. The research culminated into a 5 minute choreographic dance piece, titled A/PART. A/PART is a collaborative work that takes inspiration from collective research on identity and belonging within community. The dancers used various improvisational scores to create unique movement that embodied their own identities through theirs and other's perspectives. With original music and live musicians performing on stage, there was a continued group effort between the musicians and dancers to work together in making the piece come to life. The end result showcased a newfound community through performance art comprised of unique contributions from each collaborator.Vera J. Blaine Special Projects FundNo embargoAcademic Major: Danc