Co-Choreographers

Jessica Doro

Choreographed:

• I Need A Forest Fire

• Woods

• Fade into You

Description of Pieces:

I Need a Forest Fire - In this piece, dancers begin by finding a place to plant their roots. The energy is very individualized and somewhat selfish, while each person is trying to find, explore, and understand their place in the world like weedy vines. Throughout the piece, there are moments of frustration–feeling beheld to societal norms that we do not want to be a part of, fighting against external and internal expectations for ourselves. We feel the need to burn everything down, wanting to wipe it all away and be left alone in the ashes.

Woods - Left in the aftermath of the forest fire, we feel isolated and need to process what we’ve been through. While one person is caught up in their own anxiety, feeling lost and panicked, the other is trying to move through the pain, to gather and build a safe space for themself. When these two personalities initially collide, there is uncertainty. We are curious about each other and also afraid to let someone else in. Throughout the piece, a sense of trust and camaraderie slowly starts to build but is still backed by uncertainty and a desire to remain rooted in individuality rather than community. We experience crown shyness like the trees and want our own stories to remain. In the end, however, we learn to trust and accept the opportunity for community that is offered to us. We focus on each other, and, although it is still scary, know that we can let go of the fear and self-protective behaviors that held us back in the past.

Fade into You - When looking at ourselves in the mirror, we often only see the surface. If we spend time looking deeper, we may not always like what we see, or we are afraid to expose the parts of ourselves that we deem dark or unacceptable. When we come to face the deepest parts of ourselves, to understand and acknowledge all of our strengths and weaknesses, it can be both powerful and overwhelming. This piece is an invitation to say hello to our shadow selves, to delve into that inner self. Our shadow selves are a crucial part of us. Listening to and understanding our shadows can help us become a fuller version of ourselves. A self that is grounded, intuitive, self-aware, and accepting of others.

Bio:

Jessica has been dancing with 8:20 Dance Company since 2020. She is originally from Wisconsin and now lives in the Minneapolis area. Jessica studied Chemistry and Soil Science at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, where she was a member of and choreographer for the Dance Collective and the UMN Ballroom Dance Club and Competition Team. Jessica has been dancing for over 18 years with training primarily in ballet, modern, lyrical, and jazz. Jessica enjoys exploring storytelling and expression through movement, and she is grateful for the opportunity to continue dancing with 8:20 alongside such kindhearted and talented dancers. She has enjoyed being a part of the various on-stage and virtual performances with the company, and she is excited to see what the future holds! Outside of the studio, Jess enjoys dabbling in various art forms and spending time outside—hiking, birding, and digging in the soil.

PC: Crown of Life