Dance helps me heal, connect with community
Anthony Otto Nelson, Jr. on the set of “Crisis Materials” at Dix Park in Raleigh, N.C. with a mylar flag and wreath created by Stacey L. Kirby. Photo by Julia Wall.
Adjusting to the "new normal" seems to be the phrase that resonates the most in recent conversations with close friends, family and colleagues. Working on recent projects with the Black on Black Project and the VITAL Health team, along with being a part of discussions concerning mental health has been the silver lining that is SO needed right now as we all maneuver these ever-shifting sands.
Anthony Otto Nelson, Jr. on the set of “Crisis Materials” at Dix Park in Raleigh, N.C. with a mylar mask made by Allie Pfeffer. Photo by Julia Wall.
As a dancer and mover, adjusting to the safety precautions concerning COVID-19 has affected not only my day-to-day life but also my general mental well-being. We talk a lot about mental health toolboxes, support systems and coping mechanisms, along with other ways to effectively handle stress. A large part of my own personal toolbox is using dance and movement to connect with my community, uplift others and to share experiences to further help and heal. The VITAL Health project flower-making workshops conducted by artist Stacey L. Kirby and curator Michael S. Williams do just that, plus they offer an experience that brings the community together in solidarity and comfort, showing that we all can benefit from understanding how to use our own personal toolbox.
The mylar flowers created during the workshops help us carry so much of that weight we all have. Some of those flowers were used to make wreaths for the short film we shot at Dix Park called "Crisis Materials," where we acknowledge the layers of things we're all going through as well as the former patients that now rest in the cemetery on that same land.
As humans, we grow so much from engaging with one another, sharing information and sharing energy. This project has helped bring that aspect of support back into my life in many forms:
Connecting with those who are passionate about their art and what they do
Engaging and uplifting the community
Sharing knowledge and experiences with others
Using movement to honor those that came before as well as being open to what has yet to come
I encourage you to take part in the workshops with us. Together we can continue moving through what the year 2020 has put before us.