The Tree of Dawn
Danielle Jenson

The Tree of Dawn will be a choreographed performance involving fire and body expression inspired by Latvian mythology. The focus of the narrative will be on Saule, the goddess of the sun, and the Tree of the Dawn, or Tree of Worlds. It will begin with a woman begging for Saule at the base of the Tree of Dawn so she can be saved from the night. The act will progress through her struggle to light a fire to call her. The struggle will be visually enhanced by long sections of material streaming from her arms and legs preventing her from lighting a fire. These strands will be pulled and released by two helpers to create a real struggle. Eventually she will light a small fire which will allow her to appear as though she is winning her fight but the fire will soon be snuffed out (or only be sparks and burn away). In her time of hope she will be able to shed her restraints but once the fire is eliminated a new restraint will be pulled from her body and cover her entirely to represent her loss. This is when the tree will ignite in flames to represent the inevitable return of dawn.

Through the inspiration of Latvian myths and beliefs I hope to create a narrative representing the circle of life and how the world will continue on regardless of life or death. We are all destined to perish, yet the dawn will always come. I am interested in portraying the polarity of the despair of inevitable death and the secure hope of a future.