Jasmine Donaldson obtained her MFA in Dance this past spring. A Quiet Uprising, her MFA thesis work, was performed at Mills College in April. Below, Jasmine discusses the thinking and inspiration behind her work. Jasmine now serves as an Artist-in-Residence at SFArtsED.
This choreographic work is exploring the concepts behind what it means to be a woman and how it affects our thoughts and feelings. Finding strength in all that being a woman entails even when you would rather throw your hands up and quit. Searching for the place in between complete frustration with the ideals that society places on you, and an understanding of how to confront the ideals while still maintaining being a lady. Although people can consistently say something is not possible, you still strive to achieve what they think you cannot.
A Quiet Uprising explores the diversity of women in America and the obstacles they incur to move forward.
I have been influenced by the drawings of Diego Rivera, especially his piece Maturation and what that was implying about his relationship with his wife Frida Kahlo. The structure I continue to go back to is the congruent feeling of circles, encompassing you as you move. I hope that the audience leaves with a sense of power projected from the performers, leaving them to want to find the strength within themselves.
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A Quiet Uprising, an MFA thesis work at Mills College
Choreography by Jasmine Donaldson
Original Composition by Jasmine Donaldson, Chris Golinski, and Jason Harris
Live music played by Chris Golinski, Jason Harris and Adam Lowdermilk
Singers Sheena Johnson and Lela Annoto-Pemburton
Dancers Carly Boland, Claudia Hernandez, Elizabeth Morales, Sheila Coleman, Lela Annoto- Pemburton and Sheena Johnson
Visual Art by Carson Lancaster and Christopher Burch
