Souffle de Vie

Publication Date

Fall 12-6-2024

College

College of Music & Performing Arts

Department

Theatre and Dance, Department of

Student Level

Undergraduate

SPARK Category

Performance

Faculty Advisor

Debbie Belue

SPARK Session

Debbie Belue College of Music & Performing Arts Dance Composition 3:15-4:15 in Troutt Theater Performance: Performance is the live execution of artistic work. Presentations in this category could include dance, theater performance, or music.

Presentation Type

Performance

Summary

Souffle de Vie is a lyrical exploration of the human spirit’s fragility and resilience, inspired by a transformative personal journey of sudden adversity and miraculous recovery. The choreography reflects life’s unpredictability, capturing the shift from disorientation and struggle to renewal and strength. Breath serves as the central motif, symbolizing both vulnerability and vitality, shaping the rhythm and energy of the movement.

The choreography’s movement vocabulary is rooted in themes of sudden change, recovery, and resilience. Improvisation played a key role, with breath dictating motion dynamics—shallow breaths leading to fragmented, contracted movements and deep breaths inspiring expansive, fluid motion. Imagery further shaped the choreography, guiding transitions between precarious balances and powerful strides, visually and kinetically representing endurance and transformation.

Structurally, the piece unfolds in three sections: Illusion, Deterioration, and Renewal. Illusion portrays a sense of control and grace, setting the stage for Deterioration, where fragmented, chaotic movements depict sudden instability. The final section, Renewal, transitions into fluid, expansive phrases, concluding the piece with a sense of triumph and hope.

The creative process posed challenges, particularly in navigating emotional depth while maintaining artistic clarity. Physical demands and time constraints required balancing specificity with abstraction. However, the experience reinforced the power of storytelling through movement, highlighting breath as a potent choreographic element. Ultimately, Souffle de Vie succeeds in conveying themes of resilience and transformation, offering a deeply personal yet universally resonant reflection on the endurance of the human spirit.

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