Date of Defense

4-30-2026

Date of Graduation

5-2026

Department

Dance

First Advisor

Seyong Kim

Second Advisor

Andrea Salazar

Abstract

What Remains is a balletic contemporary dance work that explores the emotional complexity of growing older, leaving home, and returning to places that no longer feel the same. Rooted in personal experience, the piece examines the tension between memory and identity, questioning whether home is a physical place or a feeling that slowly changes over time. Through movement, music, lighting, and costume design, the work reflects the bittersweet realization that certain people, places, and experiences continue to shape us long after we leave them behind.

The choreography follows a central soloist navigating themes of belonging, conformity, grief, and self-discovery. Structured in three sections: Stagnation, Searching, and Release. The work traces an emotional journey from feeling trapped by the expectations and memories of the past to ultimately finding freedom within oneself. The ensemble represents lingering thoughts, memories, and outside influences that continuously pull the soloist backward, while the soloist embodies the struggle to move forward and establish an independent identity.

Movement vocabulary throughout the work blends classical ballet technique with contemporary qualities such as release, off-balance movement, groundedness, and emotional physicality. This fusion reflects my personal artistic voice as a choreographer and performer, combining the structure and precision of ballet with the expressive freedom of contemporary dance. Contrasting movement dynamics—including sharp, chaotic phrases against softer and more fluid sections—were used to highlight the emotional push and pull experienced throughout the piece.

The production elements further supported the conceptual framework of the work. Warm amber and lavender lighting choices emphasized memory, distance, and emotional contrast, while flowing earth-toned costumes reinforced themes of comfort, nostalgia, and impermanence. Music selections by Secession Studios and Luca D’Alberto provided a cinematic emotional landscape that guided the pacing and atmosphere of the choreography.

Creating What Remains allowed me to deepen my choreographic process while developing a stronger understanding of storytelling through movement. This project challenged me to translate deeply personal experiences into a work that audiences could emotionally connect with in their own ways. Ultimately, What Remains explores the idea that although people and places evolve, the emotions and memories attached to them continue to remain within us.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Open Access

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