I believe that dance is as much a physical practice as it is a mental practice. As a choreographer/performer, I strive to get the audience to think beyond just the physical shapes my body makes as I move. What does each shape mean? How do they connect? No matter the emotion the audience feels after watching a performance, as long as it is authentic, I feel fulfilled. I value challenging the audience to think deeper, and I value challenging myself to do the same. Dance can help us think about the things that can be emotionally triggering or mentally challenging to do so. As a mover, I cherish the ability to listen to my body’s impulses and quickly react to them. The internal fight of whether I give into impulses or pull away from them helps create unpredictable experiences.
I’m deeply passionate about integrating my understanding of psychology into my work. Psychology, as a beautiful science, continually considers the rare reactions that one in a million humans may have. The acknowledgment that every brain is unique, and the allowance for the sparse chances of unforeseeable events, sparks creativity. There is creativity in the development of art as well as the unique experience each person endures as a reaction to it.
Chantal Taluba 