On Friday night, two seasoned dancers will take the stage to perform dramatic commentaries on personal empowerment and movement.
Two masters of fine arts students studying dance will present their thesis performances from Jan. 29-31 at the Nelson Fine Arts Center. The collective production, titled Emerging Artists III, is a way for the graduating students to exhibit a culmination of years spent studying and exploring in the program.
Senior MFA student Jenny Gerena choreographed and now stars in a production titled "Flesh Narratives," which features 15 dancers and five distinct pieces reflecting the themes of changing seasons, baptism, funeral processions and reincarnation.
"It's a story about experiencing loss and finding change within yourself," Gerena said. "The aesthetic feels like a mix of nostalgia and memories. It's weathered but beautiful."
Her minimalist set utilizes dramatic lighting, shadows and atmosphere-based music to set a distinct tone that Gerena described as "meditative."
"I hope the audience (members) will walk away feeling like they experienced something thought-provoking," she said. "Something that resonates with them for a long time."
Ricardo Alvarez is a senior in the MFA program. His production, titled "It's My Party," examines the western stigma toward individuals with HIV by using the theme of birthdays to explore societal and personal empowerment.
"Birthdays are a universal concept, and that's a way to open the conversation in a way that can combat stigma," Alvarez said. "I bring a lot of humor into my work to make it inviting and engaging."
Aside from its obvious meaning, "birthday" is also a colloquial term meaning the anniversary of the day one is diagnosed with or begins treatment for HIV.
In addition to Alvarez, "It's My Party" employs four dancers and an actor to examine the beginning of time, the founding of
Alvarez hopes that his transformative work will instill a sense of transformation in the audience as well.
"I want to show audiences that it may be hard to accept, but individuals with HIV are still good people, and that's OK," he said.
The Arizona Community Foundation's Northern Trust/Piper Enrichment Award was given to Alvarez to support his study of HIV stigma. The award is granted to performing arts students in order to "enhance the student’s inspiration, cultural enrichment and research," according to the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts' website.
Both Gerena and Alvarez have been working on their thesis performances since August, and this weekend represents the pinnacle of their work in the MFA program.
Sharon McCaman is a first-year MFA dance, interdisciplinary digital media and performance major participating in Alvarez's thesis project.
"In this process we did a lot of discussion about the subject matter of HIV awareness," McCaman said. "Now that I am familiar with it, I feel like I've become an agent for advocacy. Not only do I empathize, but if I'm ever in a position where I'm talking to someone, I now have some personal experience or a relationship with the subject that I can engage with that person."
Tickets to the Emerging Artists III event are $8 for students, $12 for faculty and staff and $16 for the general public. If interested, you can purchase tickets here.
Correction: Due to a reporting error, a previous version of this story incorrectly stated the date of the performance will last. This story has been updated with the correct information.
Related links:
ASU alumna 'Miss Krystle' launches entertainment law firm on top of successful music career
Second annual Rise! Poetry Event touches on themes like Black Lives Matter, PTSD, intersectionality
Reach the reporter at skylar.mason@asu.edu or follow @skylarmason42 on Twitter.
Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.
