Margazhithingal
Annmary A.
-
“Margazhi thingal” is in reference to the auspicious month of Margazhi, a tradition of Tamil devotion. Making this piece helped me connect to my South Asian heritage and learn more about a culture that I hadn’t been involved in previously. The dance and music follow the highs and lows of worshipping a mythical figure, and in retrospect, I’ve realized that it symbolized the relationship I have with dance. Between the thrills of performing on stage and bouts with imposter syndrome, dance has impacted me in varied ways throughout my life. Recently, I’ve been trying to rekindle the sense of belonging I used to feel as a Bharatanatyam dancer; being able to choreograph this dance allowed me to explore the steps I can perform most freely and the emotions I can authentically convey. When I choreograph, I try to pull from the basic steps I had learned as a child and also movements from other artists that I admire. Methodically working through the music and intentionally researching for the piece really secured my performance as something I was doing for myself and my growth as an artist.
-
The beautiful thing about creativity is while it works to make people unique, it also exists as a connector. Creativity has been a way for me to learn from others and experience their stories, as well as a chance to share the experiences and feelings I care about.
