Rebecca Jensen

It’s 10:48pm on a Wednesday night, just got home from the studio, and despite all the homework, dessert, friends, bickering at the boyfriend, Facebook, Gossip Girl and other mundane distractions that normally consume my life- nothing demands my attention more than my delightfully sore body.
These muscles are tired. My stomach from all the contractions, my toes from Michelle’s pointe class, my neck from the head rolls, my hamstrings from the leaps, my arms from…I don’t even know! It’s amazing, isn’t it? This is what I call living life. Vicki Baum famously quotes “There are shortcuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them.” I would agree; when I am dancing, I am happiest.
In Orchesis this year, I am choreographing two pieces, granted both Darren and I will choreograph the second piece. My first piece is a feminine jazz with a focus on women and temptation. As I described to my dancers, women will always give into and participate with temptation. Chocolate, carbs, the “bad” boys, flirting…it’s all too familiar. For example, society often places a negative stereotype on women proud of their womanly curves, labeling them as too promiscuous, immoral, or even slutty. This piece’s concept originally rooted from the story of Adam and Eve, which made me realize, this is simply part of human nature. Why so bad if we flirt with a boy or slip a piece of chocolate? Embrace it. Of course I’ve added my own flirty twist to mix, or as Darren likes to call it, tranny style! I’m thinking chandeliers, luscious apples, and six tempting women…
After studying abroad for an entire year last year, I’ve had a plethora of revelations—one being that most humans are selfish…which motivated Darren and I to choreograph a dance together. It happens everyday; most things we do are for ourselves, even when we don’t realize it. We donate money to the poor (so that we feel good about ourselves knowing that we did something to help the world). We stay with our boyfriends/girlfriends despite the unhappy relationship (only because we don’t want to be alone yet). We do and don’t commit to activities (because it’s based around our own schedule). This dance will hopefully demonstrate that it’s a good to take a step back to seriously question your intentions. Are you honestly doing this for someone else, or for yourself?
Stylistically, this will be a raw, contemporary modern dance. After seeing Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Dance Company last weekend, all Darren and I could think about is movement quality and commitment. The style is very awkward (warning, don’t get mad at us when our dancers ask you for massages), and it will definitely be tough, but as long as we see commitment to the movements, down to every fingernail, we will be happy choreographers.

Photo: Coming soon