IMG 2035Working with Gina Patterson on “72 Steps” proved to be the most rewarding process in my career thus far. Gina challenged us to bring our humanity to the table and access our authentic vulnerability for the sake of the work. I will think back to this experience for the rest of my life. She pulled something out of my dancing that I hadn’t known existed.

Gina's work environment created a safe space for us to push for these aspects and not hold back for fear of judgment or rejection. Gina saw beyond the emptiness of physicality and challenged us to move with purpose and direct intention in order to properly embody the story. We as dancers were inspired by her commitment and were motived to meet the demands of everything she brought to the table. It was a true privilege to dance in a piece that portrayed such an important aspect of our history and I’m incredibly grateful that Gina was the one who choreographed it. Being young in my career, it feels like such a gift that I had this opportunity and now I can use it moving forward to improve and grow as a dancer, artist, and person.

72 Steps on Nashville Public Television

The Dancers' Experience

Skyler

IMG 2035Working with Gina Patterson on “72 Steps” proved to be the most rewarding process in my career thus far. Gina challenged us to bring our humanity to the table and access our authentic vulnerability for the sake of the work. I will think back to this experience for the rest of my life. She pulled something out of my dancing that I hadn’t known existed.

Gina's work environment created a safe space for us to push for these aspects and not hold back for fear of judgment or rejection. Gina saw beyond the emptiness of physicality and challenged us to move with purpose and direct intention in order to properly embody the story. We as dancers were inspired by her commitment and were motived to meet the demands of everything she brought to the table. It was a true privilege to dance in a piece that portrayed such an important aspect of our history and I’m incredibly grateful that Gina was the one who choreographed it. Being young in my career, it feels like such a gift that I had this opportunity and now I can use it moving forward to improve and grow as a dancer, artist, and person.

Manuela

IMG 2005Being a part of the process of 72 steps, seeing it grow, and become what it is today was truly a great experience. Working on this project allowed me to become not only a better dancer, but helped me grow personally as well.

This piece grew very organically, utilizing movements emerging from the dancers, allowing us to look within ourselves for what the topics of the piece meant to us. This way the movements of the piece were authentic and raw, encompassing our true feelings towards the work. I learned a lot from this way of working, allowing me to approach other pieces in a more deliberate and meaningful ways as well. I am also grateful to have grown much closer to my peers through this process because of the deep and connected way we worked together. I feel stronger, empowered and less scared to use my voice, which was, and is still a challenge for me. I had the opportunity to fully comprehend the importance of vulnerability, letting go of the desire to appear a certain way as I dance, but to approach each movement with a focus on the thought behind it.