Senior Paetyn Lewis highlights intersectionality between race, gender and mental health in “Cross” choreography
Dance major Paetyn Lewis, shown in middle with left hand on head, performing in her piece, “Cross.” (Erin Burnett/The Black Explosion)
By: Erin Burnett and Jalyn Mathis
Senior dance major Paetyn Lewis explores the theme of race, gender and mental health in her debut choreography “Cross,” in the School of Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies Experimental Performance Series.
Lewis said the piece explores the intersectionality between the identities of being Black, a woman and queer. It also touches on themes of anxiety and depression.
Lewis said she drew inspiration from her own experience as a Black, queer woman. She also wanted to touch on the elements of mental health after struggling with her own mental health last year.
In terms of implementing these ideas into the show, she said she wanted to portray how the multiple layers of a person can build them, and “make you have such different identities” through specific movements, the lighting and the music.
“You'll notice that it seems kind of upbeat and, I won’t say happy, but some of it is a lot more uplifting than the actual theme of it,” said Lewis. “I didn't want to be too obvious.”
When talking about creating the piece, Lewis said choreographing the near 13 minute performance wasn’t easy.
“It was actually a very difficult process,” said Lewis, also citing inconvenient timing and a busy fall semester as part of the struggle. The senior said it took her two months to choreograph the piece, including some of the choreography she came up with last summer.
“Once I got to put it on people and see it, I think that's what kind of made me want to change and think about choreographic processes,” said Lewis. “It was difficult, but it came together in the end. It's fine now, so I'm happy with the results for the most part.”
Some of the audience felt moved. Lewis’ goal of the piece was for people to see their own personalities reflected and interpret it how they wanted.
“I thought the pieces were very personal, very powerful,” said audience member Zavier Taylor. “I like shows that let people explore what they are feeling and what’s going on in their lives.
“I just wanted people to kind of see the layers of it, and to understand that people have different identities and different personalities and qualities,” said Lewis.
Currently training with professional dancer Laura Edwards and graduating this spring, the senior hopes to move to New York City in a year to become a full-time dancer, ultimately touring with different artists. She is also open to the possibility of opening her own studio to teach dance.