Audience Reviews

AUDIENCE REVIEW: p u r p l e f l a m e: A Journey of Resilience and Healing

Company:
BodyStories: Teresa Fellion Dance

Performance Date:
Friday, September 20

Freeform Review:

Artistic Director and Choreographer: Teresa Fellion
Musical Director and Composer: John Yannelli
Performers: BodyStories Company Members – Emanuele Fiore, Gracen Nelson, Natalia Sánchez, Arianna Stendardo, Eddie Stockton
Costume Designer: Nina Katan
Lighting Designer: Timothy Cryan

p u r p l e f l a m e is a work that explores the strength of human resilience from both an individual and communal perspective. It specifically addresses the challenge of navigating personal health struggles and the journey of finding strength and adaptability during times of vulnerability. The piece begins with dancers engaging in solo explorations, where each performer creates unique shapes and movements that reflect curiosity, introspection, and the search for connection. These initial gestures are fluid and organic, as the dancers explore their individual space and movements in a state of inquiry. Their bodies seem to reach outward, as if searching for something beyond their grasp, while also reflecting a quiet internal journey. As the music shifts to a more upbeat rhythm, the choreography evolves, becoming sharper and faster. The change in tempo symbolizes a shift from uncertainty and inquiry to a decisive, purposeful action. The movements grow more direct, mirroring the transition from exploration to determination, as the dancers begin to take more intentional steps forward.

Gradually, the piece transitions into a phase where the dancers begin lifting and supporting one another, signaling a deepening of trust and connection. These lifts are not merely physical; they embody a shared vulnerability, where the dancers rely on each other for strength and stability. The sense of raw vulnerability becomes palpable as their bodies intertwine and support one another in a dance of interdependence, highlighting both individual strength and the collective power that emerges when the dancers come together. Repetitive patterns begin to emerge, executed in various pathways, symbolizing the persistence of the human spirit. These repeating movements are woven through the choreography, suggesting the resilience required to overcome obstacles and the gradual convergence of individuals into a unified force.

The second section of the piece slowly comes to a close with a rhythmic and deliberate sequence: the dancers stomp their feet, creating a syncopated, percussive sound that rhymes with the music. This moment marks a shift in energy, grounding the dancers in the present moment, as the physicality of their movements resonates through the space and connects them to each other and the audience. The staccato rhythm amplifies the sense of presence, reinforcing the theme of resilience and the power of collective action.

Following this, the next section, marked by a change in lighting, the dancers now move together as a collective, with one’s action leading to another’s reaction in a seamless, synchronized flow. The section that follows evokes a profound sense of surrender. Here, the dancers transfer their body weight into the hands of others, embodying complete trust and comfort in the support they offer each other. This moment of surrender is a visual manifestation of the vulnerability at the heart of the piece, as the dancers allow themselves to fall into one another’s care, symbolizing a total release of control. The trust required for this transfer is not just physical; it speaks to the deeper emotional bond between the performers. The section conveys a quiet strength found in vulnerability, highlighting the profound sense of safety and comfort that can exist within human connection. Together, these moments form a journey through vulnerability, trust, resilience, and the transformative power of communal support.

The work was later further developed during a summer intensive, where a group of diverse contributors, including, Jack Randel, Celia Torrey, Lihi Dor, Gillian Skiba, Kamila Piotrowsk, and Rosari Sarasvaty brought their unique movement explorations to the piece. These artists infuse the work with fresh perspectives while honoring its core themes. Each dancer’s personal style and movement language played a crucial role in reimagining the piece, leading to the creation of new patterns and pathways that built upon Teresa Fellion’s original vision. Dancers encouraged to explore freely within the structure of the piece, contributing to a dynamic interplay of individual expression and group cohesion.

As the dancers embraced these new interpretations, they reshaped the movement vocabulary in ways that deepened the emotional and thematic layers of the work. They found opportunities to emphasize different aspects of human experience—vulnerability, resilience, trust, and support through this creative process. Allowing the piece to evolve into something that both retained its foundational message and offered a new lens through which to experience it. These dancers performed the work in vibrant costumes, in stark contrast to the company’s traditional beige and white attire. This choice showcases the distinct individuality and creativity they brought to the work, adding a visual layer that emphasized the transformation of the piece. The vibrant costumes highlighs how each dancer’s unique energy and interpretation contributed to the larger narrative. 

Author:
Rosari Sarasvaty

Photo Credit:
Scott Shaw - Teresa Fellion