Artist Statement

Photography: Lee Cohn

As a dancer, I am curious about the visibility and advocacy of intersectionality within this medium. I am a dancer, but I am also a writer, a woman, a Filipino-American, a dreamer, and so much more. When watching a performance, it is impossible to ignore the bodies on the stage and the history they hold. It is human nature to draw inferences and create connections to better understand what is being witnessed. As one of those bodies, I explore what it means to bring all of you to the table, not just a single role or expectation. As a choreographer and collaborator with other dancers, it is imperative that I respect and learn about my peers.

Again, as a whole and not a part. Through built trust, respect, and boundaries, I am free to create, learn, and question every day. I seek to challenge perspectives and believe that dance can be communication and conversation with everyone, the audience included. By staying curious, I am able to consistently learn from the past to aim for a better future in this industry and its continued evolution. This art is a reflection of society in a myriad of ways; as such, continued discourse through this art with society is what I strive for. A ripple on one coast can become a wave on the other. But a ripple is much more powerful when guided by the winds. No matter how different, whether wind or ripple. Together, waves are possible.  

Photography: Lee Cohn