“I underwent a process of defining myself as an artist. By putting language and concepts towards ideas that had been floating around in my unconsciousness, I was able to bring them into the forefront. The worlds of Somatics, Phenomenology and Performance Studies really revealed to me a higher consciousness of art making and helped me see and deepen my own understanding of what I do and hope to achieve with my art.

Final thoughts - Hope/belief/love of the profession: My main hope for the field of dance has always been that we as dance artists are able to look outside of our own bubble of dance, that we are able to consider all types of thoughts and disciplines so we can look at dance with a broad – universal – mind. We don’t have to look at dance from the perspective of dance; we can be critical of our own practice and follow it based on multiple angles of thought (philosophy, politics, the arts, history, astronomy, science, ecology, justice…).

Final advice to young dancers: Be excited about learning something new. Find your investigative creative spirit. Play.   Make dance happen wherever you are. Take time to focus on your breath everyday.   Be versatile and flexible. Leave judgment behind. Spend time on finding awareness; it is the first step toward change. Remember that the mirror is only a reflection of you. Be generous with your love.   Eat well and don’t smoke, anything. Study Laban and Bartenieff movement studies --- it will blow your mind and change your life. And if you are so inclined, eat chocolate (the Aztecs, my ancestors, knew what they were doing here).