Surfacing: finding an individual voice by living the honest language of the dance

This thesis navigates my journey as a dance artist, transcending movement creation in search of an individual voice through the practice of honest dance language. I believe a present and open dialogue with the body/mind, facilitates honest dance language and thus, discovery of the individual voice. Inspired by Martin Heidegger's Origin of a Work of Art, Deborah Hay's My Body the Buddhist, and reflections upon "Spin Cycle," my graduate thesis piece, my research integrates honesty as a creative approach in the dance making process. I define honesty in dance making as the ability to access internal movement language as it surfaces and presents itself through exploration. In the context; of my research I look at honesty not as value to strive for in a work of art but as an avenue for illuminating individual voice in the creative process. Individuality and honesty are important values in my research because I believe they foster self-trust in artistic development.