This work began with an exploration of femininity and is driven by the sensation of feeling lost in the expectations that are placed on the female identity. Moving through concepts of love, dreams, relationships, nightmares, joy, and hysteria, the work peels back layers of roses and the female experience. We take mechanisms of protection and make them absurd, silly and beautiful. Questioning and researching the standard of the “perfect figure” over time, that has turned into this unattainable woman, we oppositely explore the dark, seemingly ugly places that exist inside us making us individual, complex and intelligent contributors to society. Connecting poetic images of peeling, falling and roots we explore expectations of women from a young age — waiting to be rescued by a man, picking petals off a flower saying “he loves me, he loves me not,” catching the bouquet at a wedding, step touching down the aisle on your wedding day. We experience femininity as a performed act and also, a way of existing by employing laughter as a tool of defense, protection, discomfort, hysteria and joy, laughing our way through the challenges of existing as a modern woman.

Premiered at the Hatlen Theater, Santa Barbara

Stavanger, Norway, The University of Stavanger

Prague, Czech Republic,  International Dance Gala, Vinohradske Theater 

Tarnow, Poland, Mosaic Cultural Center 

Riga, Latvia, Zirgu Pasts Theater

Valmiera, Latvia, Kurtuve Contemporary Cultural Space

Florence, Italy, Teatro de la Compagnia 

Santa Barbara, CA, Center Stage Theater