chloé.eskridge.langley

artist's statement

Mistakes are almost always of a sacred nature. Never try to correct them. On the contrary: rationalize them, understand them thoroughly. After that, it will be possible for you to sublimate them.

 ~Salvador Dali

The surrealist Salvador Dali speaks to the basis of improvisation and play. This approach is one not valued enough by society. Culturally we don’t like to acknowledge our mistakes, much less analyze them. In Steve Koester’s improvisation class at the University of Utah we discussed the idea of art and dance, discussing what art creates or abolishes. Specifically we explored the idea that there are no mistakes in improvisation. I disagree.

Life is a game. Some decisions are wrong, some excellent and even more are non-important. Art is not an escape of these mistakes but an amplification of them. Art is attempting to solve an unsolvable equation. Art is pushing the limits and falling and then getting up to do something greater and more meaningful. Dance is an accepting, honest environment where my mistake may be the key to someone’s dream. Mistakes are my treasures. They help me to see where I have pushed; where I have fallen; and where I haven’t cared. Dance is my outlet for the things society deems unacceptable. Dance is where failure is not only an option but a goal, because through failure we rise from the ashes as a phoenix from the flames into something more alive and true.

Dance is a love, if not an addiction of mine and I try to share this passion with as many people as possible. I believe this is the source for my love of teaching. I hope to share my love for dance with children and through this sharing teach them that society is wrong. It is ok to fall. It is ok to stumble. For how we continue to pursue our dreams and persevere even in the wake of failure is a greater reflection of our character than any iPad or fancy Aston Martin.