Junior Dance Majors Take On Finding Themselves Through Their Art

Howard University dance majors performing on the Ira Aldridge theater stage (101 Magazine/ Naiya Brown)

Howard University’s Dance Department hosted its junior composition show on Friday, Nov. 22nd. 

Each junior had to create a dance piece and choreograph dances with other students for their final assignment. The process is an exciting, but personal journey, as the juniors used the time to find pieces of themselves within their art.

Haylynn Tate, a junior dance major, says that she was excited to begin choreographing. She was surprised by the number of hours dedicated to developing each stage of her choreography. Tate 

has choreographed before on children, but never on pre-professional dancers.

“It’s a lot of trying to find out what the message of the piece is about and trying to find that cohesive motif,” Tate said. “I’ve learned that when you have the dancers and are starting to teach the movement to them, you need the message to explain ‘why’ they are dancing that movement.”

Brianna Roach, a freshman dance major, puts on makeup for the performance  (101 Magazine/ Naiya Brown)

Many juniors found it difficult to conceptualize the meaning of their dances;   every movement had to have a reason or message behind it. 

“It’s been eye-opening. For me, it’s allowed me to notice how creative you have to be as an artist,” Tate said. “It really takes a lot of self-studying and research to come up with something original that speaks to you.”

Tate’s piece is about the journey God paves for each individual. She wanted to show how people can “flourish in their journey and blessing.” 

She added movements where dancers are partnered and bearing each other’s weight to show the audience you have to be willing to accept help from others to reach your fullest potential.

Howard University dancers waiting in the wings to perform  (101 Magazine/ Naiya Brown)

Other juniors also used personal experiences as inspiration for their dance.

Kaylee Faison, a junior dance major, choreographed her dance along with two dancers. She used her personal experience with mental health as inspiration for her dance.

“In creating the piece, I really wanted to speak myself and my younger self,” Faison said.

The two dancers in her piece represent her younger self and current self, with one dressed in white to portray her younger self.

The “younger” dancer had movements that characterized her naivety with soft music in the background. The music then ends and the dancer representing her “older self” is shown panicking as she moves across the floor.

“When you’re younger, the world is black and white. There’s no grey or ups and downs. The sky is blue and things make sense. But then you get older, and things get more difficult,” Faison said.

She wanted to choreograph her piece to address the audience with her message.

“This piece is a speech to myself, as well as anyone else around my age, that is feeling as though they aren’t the same person they remember being. Just know that ‘they’ are still in there,” Faison said.

Howard University dance students watching one of the dances on the stage  (101 Magazine/ Naiya Brown)

Kai Smith, a junior dance major, also choreographed her piece pulling from personal experiences. She wanted to create a dance showcasing how people can experience disadvantages and rough times in their lives but still grow from them.

In her piece, “Luminescent”, her dancers pushed each other towards a spotlight to let them “find their inner light.”

“The journey of my piece started in freshman year. I used a song that really resonated with me and helped me out of my adversities,” Smith said. “I wanted to choreograph it because I hope that the song connects with others and helps them through their rough patches in life.”

Howard University senior dance majors putting on their makeup before their performance (101 Magazine/ Naiya Brown)

Each dancer was excited to start the process of choreographing because they had to take many classes to prepare for the show.

“We took a lighting class and a class called ‘methods of teaching.’ All of it was to help us prepare for this. I’m so excited to see everyone’s dance, but I already know each is going to be great.” Tate said.