By Laura Fournier
Thanks to the generous funding of the Rachel Carson Grant, Dreyfoos is hosting Solomon Dumas as a Guest Artist from October 4th through the 8th, teaching master classes and choreographing a guest piece influenced by a social justice cause. Not only do dancers get the opportunity to learn from a working professional company member in Ailey, but they also additionally participate in Horton technique classes (the primary modern technique taught in our department). They also experience a true “blind” audition by wearing numbers and being chosen by the guest choreographer for their piece.
Mr. Dumas will be working on a concept surrounding Anxiety and Depression. “This is something that we, as a society, are finding language to identify this social justice issue,” says Solomon. “Through a retrospective lens, I remember dealing with bouts of anxiety and depression as a young Artist. It is my hope that through this process, the dancers may find a cathartic release in exploring this topic.
Now, in a pandemic, it is important that we take the time to recognize mental health (especially in adolescents) and understand how to identify signs and symptoms.
