Liminality is an evening of two distinctive dance works by Camryn Stafford and Michael Garcia that explores the critical point between multiple states and sensory thresholds, internalized and externalized processing, and the process of understanding over time.

“There She Is,” choreographed by Camryn Stafford, depicts the embodiment of Black women’s hypervisibility and simultaneous invisibility within society. Using a juxtaposition of 1960s pageant audio and student interviews, the piece oscillates between experiencing the hypervisibility of Black women and learning more about the truth that often remains invisible. “There She Is” asks the audience to question how they may have stereotyped, objectified, and tokenized Black women in the past, finding both familiarity and disgust with the stories and scene. The piece also asks the audience to question what they know, what they think they know, what they thought they knew before watching, and why they may think in the ways they do, while encouraging them to question the meanings we place on Black women. The piece is an extension of Stafford’s African American Studies thesis, which explores the simultaneous hypervisibility and invisibility of Black women within society, using a mix of student interviews and media to provide examples and testimony.

The cast includes juniors Ive Jones and Storm Stokes and sophomore Azi Jones.

“Acero,” choreographed by Michael Garcia, explores the stress response in the body. Medically, the stress response is broken into three stages: Alarm, Resistance, and Exhaustion. This work follows a parallel structure, with each act distinct in style, musicality, and costuming. “Acero” translates to steel in Spanish, an homage to the work’s Spanish music and to the notion that strength is forged during periods of intense change. Taking place over the course of one night and one year, the piece implicates audience members as witnesses and conspirators in the dancers’ experiences – and in their individual and collective, internal and external, and physical and emotional processing.

Content Advisory: Please be advised that “Acero” contains explicit language and movement, employs gunshots and startling audio, uses strobe lights, and touches on themes of interpersonal violence and mental health.

The cast includes Garcia, along with seniors Sara Schwartz and Soojin Robinson, juniors Gigi Schadrack, Haley Baird, Katherine Brubaker, and Vivian Li, and sophomores Adam Davis, Carly Mraz, and Tierra Lewis.

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Tickets & Details

Performances are free and open to the public. No advance tickets or registration required.