Turn and (Re)turn

university of virginia | November 2024

Created through a collaborative process with University of Virginia students and community members, Turn and (Re)turn explores memory, identity, and belonging through movement inspired by childhood photographs and personal physical histories. Each performer developed movement from their own experiences, contributing to a choreography in which individual stories became part of a shared whole.

The project brought together dancers across generations, creating space for different life experiences, movement backgrounds, and perspectives to shape the work. Rather than asking performers to embody predetermined roles, the choreography emerged through collaboration, with each person's presence contributing to the collective experience.

Creative Team

Performers
Cathy Boyd, Naomi Diener, Ella Hurlbert, Elizabeth Moore, Maddie Nally, Lillian Paternostre, Samaa Sellam, Annabelle Whittle Stratton

Lighting Design
Steven Spera

Costumes
Emily Wright

Music
Ellis Island — Meredith Monk (performed by Wilhelm Latchoumia and Vanessa Wagner)
Threads: I. Prelude — Paul Lansky (performed by Sō Percussion)
Opening — Philip Glass (performed by Bruce Brubaker)

Photo credit: Tom Daly