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My PDPR journey over the past two semesters has consisted of one faculty piece and one student piece, both of which were based on contemporary styles. I've also performed in many events with Front N' Center, such as the ATX Trail of Lights, UT Women's History Month celebration, and even for DRT. I would love to experience a residency or a guest faculty member/choreographer. Other commitments I will have this semester are ULN scholarship requirements, being a part of two student organizations while being on the executive board for one of them, and two online classes besides the rest of my dance classes.

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What was exciting?

I got excited as soon as Mz. G started speaking. I loved how authentic she was and the wisdom she had to offer. I loved the way she made us do the combo over and over again. Although I was tired I knew it was what I needed and it reminded me of some of my old training.

What was challenging?

The most challenging part of this audition was finding a way to keep pushing through the exhaustion. I appreciated the exhaustion because I didn't have time to be scared or overthink it I just had to do it.

How would being in this project help me grow?

This project would help me grow by allowing me to see how much I can take in dance and how to push through when I'm at my breaking point. It would also help me to learn how to handle challenging jobs that might make me learn choreography in short periods of time.

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What was exciting?

It was exciting to me how all of the movements connected and flowed. It felt like one continuous movement. I also loved watching my peers take on the different movements that Raul offered with ease.

What was challenging?

The most challenging portion of this audition was the many direction changes within the combo and how continuous the movement was. With those two elements combined, it got confusing fast.

How would being in this project help me grow?

This project would help me grow by allowing me to learn how to keep focus when a lot is happening and there aren't any pauses.

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What was exciting?

I'm excited to see how Que's piece will develop based on hearing the description of his idea. It's also more hip-hop-based. I'm just happy about the possibility of performing what I was trained in at UT.

What was challenging?

Not having auditions for Que's piece made it hard to know the vibe of his teaching style.

How would being in this project help me grow?

It would help to sharpen some of the skills that I already have. It will also help me accumulate more skills or recover some things I might not remember completely from my training.

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God Gave Me Feet For Dancing - feat. Yazmin Lacey

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God Gave Me Feet For Dancing - feat. Yazmin Lacey

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What was exciting?

This audition was exciting for me because I can relate to the culture. I understood the heaviness of the topic. I also loved her idea of having each dancer represent an instrument of jazz music in the piece.

What was challenging?

The most challenging part was the improvisational prompt of portraying where I held my grief and embodied that feeling. It was also hard to write about something that stuck with me that someone told me because it made me think of some not-so-happy times.

How would being in this project help me grow?

This project would allow me to grow by giving me the chance to play with the musicality of one instrument in a song. It would allow me to dissect different ways I could move to it.

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"Mother dear, may I go downtown

And march the streets of Birmingham

In a Freedom March today?"

"No, baby, no, you may not go,

For the dogs are fierce and wild,

And clubs and hoses, guns and jails

Aren't good for a little child."

"But, mother, I won't be alone.

Other children will go with me,

And march the streets of Birmingham

To make our country free."

"No, baby, no, you may not go,

For I fear those guns will fire.

But you may go to church instead

And sing in the children's choir."

She has combed and brushed her night-dark hair,

And bathed rose petal sweet,

And drawn white gloves on her small brown hands,

And white shoes on her feet.

The mother smiled to know her child

But that smile was the last smile

To come upon her face.

For when she heard the explosion,

Her eyes grew wet and wild.

She raced through the streets of Birmingham

Calling for her child.

She clawed through bits of glass and brick,

Then lifted out a shoe.

"O, here's the shoe my baby wore,

But, baby, where are you?"

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Ballad of Birmingham by Dudley Randall | Poetry Foundation

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What was exciting?

I love learning other cultural dance styles. It just made me excited to work with styles of dance that I respect so much. The combination was beautiful and I appreciated the across-the-floor beforehand to get us more into it. I also love artivism because this is one of the best ones to impact our world through our artistry.

What was challenging?

The most challenging part was coordinating some steps with the hips and arms.

How would being in this project help me grow?

This project will allow me to gain more cultural knowledge physically about Latin dance forms. It's always great to learn other cultured dance forms and to have the skills in my back pocket.

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2/7 Reflection Part 2 - What has been challenging for you in this process?

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2/7 Reflection Part 2 - What has been challenging for you in this process?

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This week, I have been working with Mz. G for residency. This process has been challenging for me because I've never been in a residency piece here before. I don't pick up choreography fast, so it has been a mental battle. I've also been struggling with the sense of if I feel like I belong there as well.

I put this GIF because this is how I have felt all week throughout this process.

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2/7 Reflection part 2 - What has been a delight for you in this process?

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2/7 Reflection part 2 - What has been a delight for you in this process?

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It has been a delight to work on styles I'm interested in performing in the professional world. It has also been nice to watch my peers transform and learn cultural dance styles. I have loved building relationships with my cast.

I included this video clip from rehearsal because it's one of my favorite parts. It just reminds me of why I love dancing.

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What was exciting?

The song gave me nostalgia because there was a piece set to it at my high school. I loved how with the musicality and complexity of the movement. It was hard for me, but I enjoyed the challenge.

What was challenging?

The last little ending section was so fast and detailed. I couldn't catch on to it that quickly, but again, I enjoyed the challenge. There were also some legs that I couldn't get how they wanted, but that's okay.

How would being in this project help me grow?

This process would allow me to grow by teaching my brain how to absorb the amount of information and detail in the piece. And also how to get it to stick.

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2/7 Reflection Part 2 - What have you taught yourself?

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2/7 Reflection Part 2 - What have you taught yourself?

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I'm teaching myself to keep encouraging myself and to give myself positive self-talk. Again, this residency has been a mental battle, so I am learning to be my cheerleader. The negative has often overpowered the positive, so I'm just trying to continue thinking about dancing and why I love it so much.

I've included this song by Kendrick Lamar because he repeats this line, "I deserve it all," and that's what I've been trying to instill within myself.

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Kendrick Lamar - man at the garden (Official Audio)

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2/7 Reflection Part 2 - How have you grown?

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2/7 Reflection Part 2 - How have you grown?

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I have grown by pushing myself past the limits of exhaustion. This week has been tough mentally and physically, but I am proud of myself for sticking with it. It genuinely has been a rough time for me, but the passion that I have for this art has continued to push me forward.

I'm including this photo from rehearsal because this is a part that I have to fight for. I'm not very flexible, but I knew I was going to have to push through.

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What's next for you in this process? What do you want to continue doing or manifest anew? 3/3

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What's next for you in this process? What do you want to continue doing or manifest anew? 3/3

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What's next for me in this process is finding ways to expand on what has been established with both pieces I'm in while maintaining their authenticity and rawness despite the media and lighting elements added. I'm also trying to continue how the studio run-through felt on stage. The studio run-through to me was the most authentic our show was and I appreciated that feeling.

I included the video clip above because it's one of the most powerful moments for me within this section of the piece. Even though this part is a lot mentally, it has so much meaning to it.

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This process has taught me how to continue advocating for myself and my peers even when it's difficult. This semester, it's been a struggle to feel comfortable speaking up and advocating, but I've continued to do so despite the discomfort. Just with different content and aspects of pieces, as well as the mental and physical toll the show has taken on me.

I put a photo of my journal entry for Cue's piece because he made us sit down and write step by step about each section, what we're thinking about, and what our intentions are.

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This was a very difficult process for me. It was a lot mentally because we were being pushed harder than I've felt we normally are.

I think the difficulty of the piece is very vital to the meaning behind the piece as well. We've talked a lot about our cultures, like what it means to be black, Hispanic, or white in America. The struggle I felt during this process is how it feels to be a black woman in America. In our specific trio of black women, we were thinking about how we're often not offered an opinion or voice; we're stereotyped as mad or having nasty attitudes, and we are always over-sexualized or judged because of our hairstyles. When we go into the African movements, we do that as a constant reminder of where we came from. There is so much more to explain when it comes to this piece, but that is just a snippet of information because I understand and resonate with this part.

This experience again was very rough for me, but I don't believe I was put in this piece as a mistake, so that is how I was able to make it through and persevere.

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What have you done to further the intentions and goals you set for yourself at the top of the semester? 3/3

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What have you done to further the intentions and goals you set for yourself at the top of the semester? 3/3

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I've just been continuing to accept the challenges that come with being in two pieces within this production. This was a step further taken for me within the department by pushing me to do more within our shows. I've done my best to show ample commitment to both pieces throughout the process and I feel like I've been successful with that. I feel very connected to both casts that I'm a part of and that has made this experience better for me.

I included that photo because I feel like this is how I've felt during this process, not in a bad way, but with the fact that we have had such a short amount of time to prepare. This has made me push myself a lot though which I can appreciate.

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What have you contributed to the piece and to the realization of a creative community of caring, kickass artists? 3/3

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What have you contributed to the piece and to the realization of a creative community of caring, kickass artists? 3/3

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I've contributed my commitment to this production as well as supporting my peers throughout this process. I've also contributed my voice and advocated for myself and my peers in certain situations. I'm so glad to have been able to contribute in the ways I have listed to my creative community.

Included is a clip from this last ensemble section in Cue's piece that I did with Julia and Hunter. It is the hardest section for me to get through, I feel, but it is also my favorite part.

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What has been challenging for you in this process? 3/14

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What has been challenging for you in this process? 3/14

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Show week was a huge challenge overall. We had a dress rehearsal on the Sunday before and on the Monday of show week. Then, we started performing on Wednesday. It was a struggle every day to be tired from class and then come back to perform each night.

I included the photo above because this was also our struggle with Mz. G's cast. The umbrellas kept breaking every night and we ultimately decided not to decorate them.

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What connections are you making between this experience and other life experiences you are having? 3/14

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What connections are you making between this experience and other life experiences you are having? 3/14

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Just knowing how to be on my own with things and no relying on others. Also learning how to lean on the people who are there for me as well.

I included this because this is how appreciative I've felt of my peers and the first-year MFAs.

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What have you learned from someone else in your cast and/or the choreographer/creative leaders of your project? 3/14

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What have you learned from someone else in your cast and/or the choreographer/creative leaders of your project? 3/14

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I've learned from the choreographer's process that I've been in that the performance is what I make it. Yes, there is the choreography, but when it comes to show time it's in my hands as to how it is being delivered.

I included this song because this song represents how I feel performing. The feeling this song gives me is what I try to recreate on stage.

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What has been a delight for you in this process? 3/14

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What has been a delight for you in this process? 3/14

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Being back on stage was the biggest delight for me. I love performing, and that is why I am here. Every opportunity I have to perform makes me so happy.

I'm including this clip that one of my peers recorded, and it is my favorite part because everyone would be in the wings watching and cheering me on. This video shows how much I love to do what I do.