Beyond the Curtain

Abstract

Beyond the Curtain is a work of hybrid autofiction that explores the facets of performance through dance in the studio and stage, as well as in everyday life. The speaker in the work navigates how her identity is shaped by not only how she sees herself, but also by the perceptions of others. There is often pressure for more reserved and quiet people to “fill the space” and the idea that this identity both places them in a box as and is one to break free from (finding one’s voice and confidence). Identity within this work has been inspired by my own life by incorporating different writing forms and visual texts to construct memories from my childhood experiences as a dancer and student. Through this process, Beyond the Curtain explores what it means to be seen and unseen, brave and fearful, heard and silenced, and how these characteristics make coming of age a continuous process of discovery and opportunity.