ABOUT THE WORKS

Handbrake by Corah Abbott

Handbrake, set to Micatone’s composition of the same name, revolves around a relationship that is devoid of interest and care. Despite their unfeeling nature towards each other, our central couple carries on living dissatisfied together, showcased by the dancers in a series of solos and tango-inspired duets. Throughout the piece, the two couples embody a lack of control in the relationship through off-balance falls, drags, and catches. These moments of risk and momentum propel the dance into continual motion much like a car without brakes.

 Remembering by Nathan Madden

Two figures drift between memory and reality. One returns from far away, as the other reaches for the echo of what once was. Their connection shimmers — both present and absent, fleeting and eternal. Is this a reunion, or merely a remembering?

Madinat Al-Salam by Ahmad Joudeh

Entitled Madinat Al-Salam, The City of Peace, and set to music by Brendan Angelides, Joudeh’s latest solo is a fusion of Sufi traditional movement and ballet, as a heartfelt prayer for peace in his hometown, Damascus. Sharing this work in Crafted II holds deep meaning for Joudeh, as it represents a bridge between Eastern spirituality and Western art, uniting cultures through the language of dance.

Shakti by Victoria Jenkins

Shakti is a dance inspired by the Hindu goddess Durga, the embodiment of protection and inner strength. Born from the great creator Brahma to restore balance, Durga is of a warrior race and is gifted with the powers of the divine masculine. As the male lords seek to claim her, she challenges them, multiplying herself to face their armies. With each tear she sheds, warriors evaporate, and as they send more, she splits into countless forms, defeating them all. In the final confrontation, the lords themselves fall, consumed by the flames of their own egos as they meet her gaze. Set to music by Cam Steen, the dance ultimately explores the battle between ego and the highest self, honoring the feminine as the source of creation and life.

Thoughtscape, Movement 3 by Natasha Rader

Thoughtscape, set to music by Ezio Bosso, ponders the ways our minds react, adapt, and change throughout our experiences and how our thoughts can work for — or against — us. This third movement is a duet that observes the different parts of oneself. Despite our best intentions, there will always be a piece of ourselves that we don't like. Whether we choose to work against, or work with this, it's part of what makes us who we are.

Inner Tension by Nicole Denney

Inner Tension explores the tension between individuality and conformity within a collective. Set to multiple compositions by The Black Dog, the music underscores this struggle, with each piece offering distinct energy while remaining thematically connected. Through precise formations and moments of disruption, the work considers the balance between control and freedom—leaving space for interpretation. 

Between Moments by Celyna Tran

Between Moments, set to Kirill Richter’s Chronos, explores the balance between motion and stillness in a world that rarely pauses. It reflects on the relentless pace of modern life and how we rush from one experience to the next without taking the time to breathe, notice, or truly connect. The piece contrasts chaos and calm, the external noise of the world and the quiet inner rhythm we often overlook. It reminds us that even in our constant state of motion, we are allowed to slow down, to find presence in the in-between moments, and to recognize that meaning often lives not in endless movement, but in the brief pauses that let us feel and simply be.

Frame by Luc Simpson

Frame carefully watches as the bond of performer and spectator unfolds, set to contrasting scores by Martin Rev and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Momentary glances and soft stares, sat in a theater or standing outside a window.

 Equilibrium by Courtney Giannone

Equilibrium examines the dynamic interplay between opposing forces, exploring the dialogue of strength and vulnerability, yielding and resisting, self and other.  It reflects the ongoing recalibration at the heart of human connection.

If Only by Stephen Hallburn

If Only explores Hallburn’s journey toward self-acceptance—learning to see his body, his heart, and his worth as one. It reflects the struggle of feeling disconnected from himself and like an outsider in the dance world, and the transformation that came when he began to embrace every part of who he is—his body, his talents, his flaws, and his imperfections. Through that acceptance, he discovered that he had belonged all along.