Personal Project - 2021
“Tethered” | Chapman University | Final Project for Course: Consciousness & Cognition
Choreography: Kylie Steuben
Music: Beethoven's 5 Secrets
Videography: Katie Cleek
I created this dance as a final project for an honors course, Consciousness and Cognition, that I took at Chapman University. I laced symbolism throughout the piece that connected to topics we had discussed in class. At first, I decided the chair would represent insecurities, lies believed about one’s self, things that hold us back or weigh us down, mental illness, or the unexplainable darkness looming over a season of life. Essentially, whatever the chair symbolized, it prevented the individual from dancing (or living) the way she or he wanted to. As the piece evolved, the role of the chair developed into a broader interpretation. While it still symbolized the negatives listed above, it could also simply be “the mind.”
The tether I used throughout the dance signified the connection I CHOSE to have with whatever the chair symbolized. There were moments when I had no control over how the chair affected me. But anytime I picked up the tether or tied myself up, I was showing my active choice to give in to whatever the chair symbolized. This also alluded to how our darkness and coping mechanisms feel safe and familiar. So even though they limit us or cause us deep pain, we give into them. We keep ourselves tied to them, knowing full well the harm they will cause. Depending on how I interacted with the tether, I was completely disconnected from the chair, or quite literally tied to it.
My goal with this dance was to explain the complex relationship we have with our own minds. Sometimes we feel very in control. Sometimes we feel confident we have free will. Sometimes we feel like the thoughts in our heads are far from our own. Sometimes thinking and being content in our conscious state is enjoyable. Other times the inner monologue going on is so loud that it affects our outsides too. I showed this rollercoaster of a relationship by interacting with the chair. There were moments when I was scared of the chair (scared of my own mind and thoughts). I fought with giving into the chair and at some points, I willingly melted into it. This battle also symbolized my attempt to differentiate between the thoughts in my mind and what I believed was my “self.” The chair was always in frame, but I began the dance not paying attention to it. Going forward, I would transition from acknowledging it and interacting with it to acting as if it wasn’t there.
One of the movement motifs I repeated throughout the dance was gesturing to my forehead and my heart. Gesturing to my head was a reference to “the body” and gesturing to my heart was a reference to “the mind.” I wasn’t trying to make a dualist statement by expressing the mind and body were completely separate. I wanted to address the connection between the two and how sometimes they may work together/“are in agreement” and other times the mind and body conflict, which can lead to inner turmoil. My intention was to indicate to the viewer when my mind and body were at peace and working harmoniously together. Sometimes I would touch my forehead, then my heart, and let my hands melt together (showing a connection). For the reverse, I would touch my forehead, then my heart and the two would jerk away from each other (showing a disconnect).
This piece can be interpreted many different ways and I hope that it resonates with whoever watches it. I think we can all relate to the war that wages in our minds daily.
