Cecilia Jensen's Artistic Statement
Dance is an exercise of the mind; activating multiple kinds of intelligence that work together to create harmony between the body, music, space, and soul. A dancer requires kinesthetic intelligence, to understand how their body moves and ways they can play with the physical form. They need musical intelligence to appreciate rhythm or melody and follow compositional motifs. Spatial intelligence is needed regarding the three-dimensionality of the dancer body. The ability to comprehend all that space encompasses helps a dancer navigate their relationship with their surroundings. And lastly, it is necessary for a dancer to have emotional intelligence. Emotions connect people to movement by providing them reasons to dance, whether it be for personal gain or to connect to others. Dance is fueled as an art by the passion people pour into it.
As a ballet dancer and choreographer, I strive to cultivate and push the boundaries of these four intelligences. An opportunity to dance is an opportunity to challenge my understanding of the body, music, space, and soul. I emphasize experimenting with my physicality, engaging with music in new ways, exploring fresh spatial relationships, and strengthening the emotional and symbolic power of my art. My performance and choreography are an intentional effort to weave together these four facets of dance and challenge the boundaries of what I feel is possible. The dedication I have to my philosophy and craft is what allows my artistry and relationship with dance to exponentially grow.
