Date of Award

Summer 2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

First Advisor

Rosana Barragán

Abstract

This thesis investigates dance as an embodied practice of healing, attunement, and belonging through phenomenology, somatics, and environmental engagement. Grounded in Sondra Fraleigh’s eco-phenomenological framework, the research weaves personal narrative, artistic inquiry, and interdisciplinary scholarship to examine how thresholds of birth, injury, and recovery shape sensory orientation across the lifespan. Drawing from lived experiences as a dancer, mother, educator, and researcher, the study explores tone, breath, light, and movement as formative forces in identity and resilience. Central to the inquiry is a knee injury and subsequent surgical recovery, which catalyzed a somatic practice aligned with circadian rhythms, sunrise ritual, and mindful movement. Qualitative data from diverse populations, alongside scientific research on infrared light and cellular vitality, support an understanding of dance as both a healing modality and pedagogical framework. The culminating choreographic work invites collective witnessing and participation, offering dance as an act of care, ecological connection, and shared transformation.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

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