"All Strings Attached" (Dance Performance)
Category: Performing Art
Author(s): Jacqueline Urquidez, Amethyst Aligaen, Alyssa Benik, Mikayla Carter, Sophia Crile, Nicole Genalo, Kimberly Mayorga-Escalante, Brady McCue, Kaitlyn Tayntor, McKenna Donohue
Presenter(s): Jacqueline Urquidez, Amethyst Aligaen, Alyssa Benik, Mikayla Carter, Sophia Crile, Nicole Genalo, Kimberly Mayorga-Escalante, Brady McCue, Kaitlyn Tayntor, McKenna Donohue
Mentors(s): Judith Bejarano
Jacqueline’s dance capstone and senior thesis research, All Strings Attached, is focused on the “American Dream” and the idea that hard work and perseverance can lead to success and a better life. However, inequalities impact people’s ability to achieve this dream. The pursuit of the American Dream can be seen through the lens of white privilege being portrayed as the real “national fantasy” but in reality, it is unattainable and unrealistic to everyone else. Like a puppet show, the world manipulates those trying to achieve this dream by putting them on display and convincing them of a future that has only been created when excluding non-white experiences and aspirations. Jacqueline is showcasing is the last two sections of her capstone choreography. The opening section is portraying the satirical and overly happy aspect of living this dream through the lens of the idealized, conflict-free happy family privilege. The ending section portrays the persevering ones that through trying to be controlled and held back, they continue to pursue there dreams no matter the obstacles that the inequalities of our country put forth on them. This capstone was created to showcase the power of protest and advocacy through dance. Choreographer: Jacqueline Urquidez Dancers: Amethyst Aligaen, Alyssa Benik, Mikayla Carter, Sophie Crile, Nicole Genalo, Kimberly Mayorga, Brady McCue, Kaitlyn Tayntor Understudy: McKenna Donohue