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Visible Histories

Thu, May 25, 19:30 to 21:30, Hilton San Diego Bayfront, Floor: 2, Indigo Ballroom B

Abstract

The Visible Histories Project gathered two groups of participants from ages 19 to 80, with participants from three different countries who shared intimate memories in the forms of writing and storytelling over three months. The groups, mostly novice dancers, were then taught improvisation tools to transform their memories into a collective body of movement – in essence - to dance in one another’s memories.

The groups co-choreographed dances based on their collective movements while also engaging in group improvisation to build physical rapport. In addition to performing their works before family and friends, they reflected on the impact of memory sharing and joint movement exploration, which revealed several social implications for individual participants. The creative process and reminiscence sharing deepened existing friendships, influenced career choices and on-the-job demeanors for students and a nurse participant, and helped others come to different terms with long buried memories by reliving them through movement.

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