Before a story is spoken, it is felt. Parallax explores how perspectives shift and change depending on the individual experiencing them. Through movement, the production invites audiences to consider how different interpretations and experiences can coexist
Parallax, a dance production choreographed by Fernando Carrillo and co-directed by faculty artists Chelsea Asman and Cihtli Ocampo, brings together student performers to explore storytelling through movement.
Through choreography and teamwork, student performers have worked to bring the production to life and share their love of dance with the campus community. Parallax will run Nov. 12-14.
Ocampo said collaboration was one of the most rewarding parts of working on Parallax. She explained that creating choreography can be a lonely process, often requiring dancers and choreographers to spend six to eight hours a day working alone in the studio.
“It’s a long time to be by yourself in a room with three walls and a mirror,” Ocampo said. “So for me to collaborate and to work with dancers specifically, is really, really fun.”
For freshman dancer Alyah Encizo, preparing for Parallax meant learning a new style of dance while building her confidence.
“It was a struggle at first, especially, you know, when you’re getting corrected, you’re looking at videos of yourself, you’re just constantly working to improve all the time.”
Having previously only been trained in Jazz and Hip Hop, Encizo knew corrections for this contemporary dance were an important part of her growth as a dancer.
“I want to know what I’m doing wrong so I can continue to get better. … If I’m not getting corrected, then I can’t really continue to improve,” Encizo said.
She stressed the importance of support from fellow dancers, sharing that communicating with others helped her navigate difficult rehearsals.
Precious Bobby Jones, a dance major, described the production as a combination of activism and perception of the arts.
“It’s partial activism and partial just how you see dance and how you perceive dance as an outsider,” Jones said.
Jones said the meaning of each piece can depend on the audience member watching it. While some performances carry more serious messages, others include playful moments with underlying meaning.
The rehearsal process has also encouraged dancers to build trust with one another. Jones said that as performers become more comfortable with the choreography, they develop a stronger sense of connection.
“It’s like a subtle communication. It’s like, ‘Okay, I got your back with this, I got you,’ and we start to become one,” Jones said.
For the dancers, sharing their work with the CSUDH community is an opportunity to express themselves beyond the classroom.
“This is just a moment for people to see us for who we are in our dance, outside of the work,” Jones said.
As the production comes together, Ocampo hopes audiences will take the time to experience live performance and consider perspectives different from their own.
For her, the value of dance extends beyond the movements onstage. It creates an opportunity for artists and audiences to connect, understand one another and experience something together.