the quiet

Choreographer: Candice Salyers in collaboration with the dancers

Dancers: Chloe Brister, Breana Fields, Dannica Gilmore, Kadence Jefferson, Morgan Jones, Avery King, Lacie Purser, Ramsey Sullender, Mary Elizabeth Thaggard, Leah Wicks, TaKhiyli Williams

Music: "Fractal" by Yotam Agam

Program note:

Special thanks to Dr. Jill Hendon, Dr. Rebecca Powell & Laine McKnight, Dr. Kristina Mojica & Rachel Lancaster, the Marine Education Center, and the Mississippi Aquarium.

This dance was created as part of DAN 220, which is a Gulf Scholars Program course this year. The Gulf Scholars program aims to inspire and prepare undergraduate students to create a more equitable, just, and resilient Gulf region through developing inquiry and service-learning projects built on the foundations of sustainability and interdisciplinary thinking. As we were researching issues impacting the Gulf and marine life, we created the following text that weaves together excerpts from everyone's writing about the role of performers in addressing these issues.

By caring for water, we care for ourselves.

I want to give it a voice

recognition, 

reassurance,

empathy,

appreciation,

respect,

peace—

to offer kindness to what has been mistreated for so long. 

The ocean is not a lesser being—it's mightier than anything on earth. 

Let's think before we act,

think of the effects.

We can reshape how we think, live, 

move forward.

We have healing to offer.

When we heal the water, we heal ourselves.