This multimedia performance investigates the forces that shape movement through the lens of cymatics — the scientific phenomenon where sound creates visible patterns in water. Inspired by moments when movement feels less controlled and more like being moved by an internal creative force, this work explores the question: What if our movements are actually a particle dance shaped by internal intelligence responding to environmental frequencies?

The performance integrates live somatic dance, real-time generative visuals, and responsive sound environments. Using motion tracking and TouchDesigner, the work captures Milana’s movement and transforms it into dynamic projections that visualize the body’s imagined internal particle dynamics. Through geometric manipulation and particle attractors, the visuals mirror the atomic and energetic shifts occurring within the dancing body.

This integration merges the somatic self with interactive technology, revealing the body not just as a vessel for expression, but as an alive, responsive system of intelligent particles.

My experiences with scoliosis and spinal-fusion surgery inform so much of what I do and how I show up in the world. As a dance artist, a lot of my struggle post-surgery has been navigating the dichotomy of momentum and resistance. I have always felt resistance in my body when trying to conform or fit in, but am propelled with so much momentum when I move in seemingly non-traditional ways — I am interested in exploring this relationship throughout this process, with further investigation into how nonconformity can strengthen community. I am also interested in researching the relationship between tension and restraint, perhaps turning to tactile elements to articulate the physicality of a rather invisible phenomenon.

During this residency, Ilyana is interested in exploring the relationship between art and artist by combining dance and paint. Inspired by Lyall Watson’s idea of dance existing in both space and time, and that dance is unique in the sense that the art and the artist, the creator and creation, are one in the same, her process will involve taping a canvas to the floor and painting it with the dancers’ movements, symbolizing a way for the dance to live on in space. Her process is rooted in collaboration and a mix of set choreography and improv. She looks forward to using a variety of collaborative dance making tools in her rehearsal process to bring her and her collaborators’ visions to life in a final performance.

During the residency, I would like to explore the deep connection between ourselves and the infinite universe around us. Just as the vast universe holds endless possibilities, so do we, as ever-changing & growing beings. Inspired by the spiraling journey of self-discovery and the themes of Everything Everywhere All At Once, this work embraces the beautiful chaos of life. Healing and growth aren’t linear, and neither is this work nor this life. Through movement, I will explore themes of grief, loss, self-identity, and reconnection to inner power. It’s a reflection of the human experience: unpredictable, emotional, expansive. At its heart, this research is about remembering that even in moments of confusion or pain, we carry universal power and constellations within us.

Niza’s choreographic research centers on the feeling of belonging. She explores the confusion of isolation, the joy of shared experiences, and the quiet power of being accepted through dance. Drawing from personal reflection and community dialogue, Niza uses improvisation and somatic practices to investigate how bodies express a yearning for connection and care. She is especially interested in how emotions live in the body and reflect in our everyday gestures. This work investigates the ways we reach for each other and the spaces where we feel truly seen.