Broken
Ruchita V.
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In this improvisational dance piece, I am sharing both my movement and heart to Isak Danielson's song Broken. I let viewers know that share that sometimes what we are searching for in other people can actually be found within ourselves. The journey of life is complex and art makes space for us to honor all of our feelings.
The art of dance is my creative outlet. I devote 20+ hours a week to dance and have always felt at home storytelling with movement, a healing language that without any words, everyone can see themselves represented in.
Dance fills me with vast love and keeps me up at night so that the next day, I can share this love ingeniously in my community. During a health class presentation on self-love, I wore a t-shirt that said ‘I Am Enough’ from a dance convention and created a chant for my classmates to repeat. I elucidated that self-love is not about being happy every single day, but is about knowing you will be okay during strenuous times. My creative expression allows me to share the practice of believing in ourselves.
I also use movement to raise awareness about mental health and help people know their worth through artistry. In Spring of 2021, I was cast in Lehigh Valley’s dance film choregraphed by Hayden Frederick, ‘Lay Your Head Down,’ a piece shining light on mental illness, breaking the stigma, suicide prevention, and raising awareness. As the youngest cast member, I portrayed the youth struggling with depression, anxiety, and internal struggles. My role aligned with my purpose of helping people by loving unconditionally.
My artistic vision is also expressed through my position as a youth leader for The Dance Safe, a safety organization. I facilitate Youth Safe Spaces for young people globally to share what’s on their hearts and have an open discussion about the world around them. With this role, I also create infographics to help teens learn about consent, notice the signs of grooming, and unsafe situations to prevent sexual abuse in dance.
Innovation in artistry inspires me to become better than the person I was yesterday and is a vessel to change the world. By surrendering to fear and being authentic with both my movement and heart, I make space for people to be loved and accepted as themselves—to recognize that their existence matters.
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Creativity is life-saving as it is a vessel to explore and understand different aspects of our lives. Creativity allows us to develop compassion. By being authentic with our art, we create spaces where people feel seen and loved. We ultimately honor the human experience.
