Emory Dance Company Choreographer: Sophia Shahin

 

The Spring 2024 Emory Dance Company Concert on April 18-20 features new work by students in our Choreography II course. Read about choreographer Sophia Shahin's work and process below!

I am drawing inspiration from the manifestation of the unconscious mind within the realm of dreams. I want to dive into the surreal and abstract nature of dreams, exploring how they serve as a veil, masking the authentic emotions of the dreamer. In addition, I aim to illuminate the concept of dreams as a window to the unconscious, where emotions are often suppressed and disguised.

This piece truly invites the audience into an unfamiliar world, one where the interplay of a disturbing soundscape, distorted costumes, and emotionally charged yet athletic movements immerse the audience into a narrative. As I continue to explore this world, I am thrilled by watching my dancers engage with the material, surrendering to the absurdity and complexity of it.

As a first-time choreographer, I am still honing my creative process. I’ve played with offering phrase work, which I then manipulate and distort. Additionally, I’ve explored providing prompts to the dancer, which take the form of artistic images, Wikipedia pages, and other sources detailing dream phenomena and letting that spark inspiration for movement generation.

When audiences witness my work, I hope they feel disoriented amidst the absurdity and ambiguity of the piece, prompting introspection and personal interpretation. The abstract nature of the piece invites the audience to embark on a unique journey, finding clarity within the mysterious nature of dreams and emotions.

Thank you Sophia! Tickets for the Emory Dance Company Spring 2024 Concert are on sale now. Click here to purchase them now!