In Her Own Words:
Today my little boys released the butterflies that they have been observing and nurturing since the caterpillars first arrived at our doorstep in a small jar. The temperature warmed up to 60 degrees and as their wings were exposed fully in the sunlight, I could sense the energy within their stillness. They were about to take flight.
This Friday marks what would have been the convocation & commencement at BYU. We would have basked in the sunlight and accomplishments of the students in their caps and gowns as they prepared to fly. However, that has all vanished and we are left with only the imagination of what might have been. We are left in a stasis of stillness remembering warm embraces, genuine greetings, and welcoming smiles.
Reflecting back on my first year overseeing the responsibilities of the BYU Contemporary Dance Theatre, I feel blessed the company members were able share experiences and memories well before this day of isolated graduation. However, like many performance groups, there were opportunities and performances left undone leaving the company in a state of unfinished closure.
Like a butterfly, dance is an art form that is evanescent. It leaves only the memories of invisible traces that permeates the air and the pathways on the ground. Because the physicality transforms into ephemerality, dance pushes us to fully live in the present. It begs us to live in the present, and perhaps it is that begging that drives us to seek human connection and share that with others. How grateful I am then, to have witnessed these connections transpire over the course of the year through the daily grind of rehearsals and performances.
This week we celebrate the flight of seniors and reflect back on those who have impacted our lives for good. As a tribute to the vitality of human connection and a hope for the day when we can one day physically connect to each other again, we are releasing “Vanish”, a screendance choreographed by Jesse Obremski and filmed by Scott Cook with music by Jarom Hanson. Performed by the CDT company, “Vanish” reminds us of our humanity and the power of lifting others on this journey called life. Congratulations to the class of 2020.
~ Keely Song