As a dance artist dedicated to unearthing a powerful relationship with the natural world I often find myself left to grieve the exploitation of the earth in the shadows.

“Our culture doesn´t acknowledge the loss of the natural world, or other species, as we do human loss and that intensifies the pain. But why should our grief for the loss of the natural world be any different than the grief for a loved one?” - Climate educator Jennifer Atkinson.

Grief however does not lead to endless suffering, it leads to healing and mental health.

I was raised by wind, a river, a forest and a cornfield. I have incredible memories of losing myself under the moon, in the waves, high up in sticky tall pine branches, beside lone coyotes, on top of snowy mountains, and in the shadows of corn stalks. Nature has been my sanctuary. By far, my greatest teacher. Her lessons on the character of resilience, presence, active stillness, radical reciprocity, interconnectedness, cycles of change, death and rebirth are just a few examples of the themes I extract and work with choreographically.

I am in awe of the expression of others: roses in winter, adolescent seagulls in spring, willow trees in thunderstorms, wild mustangs in winter. I feel most alive when witnessing the movement of others' unique individuality.

Working with the natural world solidified for me back in 2008 when I started dating a Spanish photographer. He encouraged my passion and documented my field work. I got the support I had been missing. Until then, being a professional dancer was something one did in the studio between four white walls, in front of shiny mirrors and before an audience sitting in the dark staring at you. With the support of JC´s professional experience we would go out into a variety of different landscapes with a backpack and a notebook; place our feet upon the earth and collect images, elements, and movement motifs for development in the studio. Dance infused with environment became a process of creation and Earth as a manifestation of that creation.

When we are fully in our bodies we are medicine for the planet. When we feel connection to our environment, we act compassionately. Life changes. We start saying NO to the exploitation and the plastic. We stop purchasing food at the expense of the health of the planet and other living beings. We stop buying pork and beef raised behind bars at the price of other sentient lives.

Dance fused with environment has been a gateway to that state of connection.

It is mid-March and I´m reflecting on the past year and feeling grateful for the performances, workshops, and collaborations. I had the honor of dancing for three hours this morning and I am home alone now with my Mexican dog, Lupita, and my two cats, sipping rose petal tea before a few candles visualizing the rest of this year of 2024. Although, the state of the world is  upsetting, I feel clear about my intention of wanting to be part of the community of souls doing the healing that is also happening.

Dance has the power to renew an old and almost forgotten truth, that we are but one part of an interdependent, unified, conscious and living earth. And when you remember that truth you move differently, you think differently, you create differently, you consume differently. You live differently.

You align yourself with the rest of the living planet.