Dance
Here are this year's submissions to the Celebration Media contest
Akira Synkowski
| The piece that I am submitting is a dance piece that I have choreographed for my dance composition class. The unit that I was assigned to choreograph to is based on collaboration, as the chosen choreographers had to choose music made by DIM students or poems made by Literary students. My piece is a mixture of both, as first I read a poem from a current Carver Literary student, and then the dancers dance to a song made by a DIM student. Being given the restriction of having to choose previous artwork to make my own artwork helped encourage me to make something different from what I typically think of, similar to the perspective of George Washington Carver’s quote. To me, his words mean that a person should constantly try to strive to make new creations as this is the best place for your mind to be. In this state, a person can truly express what they desire to create, and I feel like the connection I had with the other two pieces of art that I based my dance off of allowed me to move in a different direction as an artist and choreographer. Dance is my favorite way to express myself, and the restrictions that were placed on me to create this piece allowed me to tap in more to my true creativity, creating something unique that I am truly proud of. |
Jasmine Campbell
To me, those words mean to let your creative mind take over. Creativity can led you to many opportunities and create beautiful things. Your creative mind makes you who you are and shows people how you interpret things with your mind. Your creativity is what makes you, you. In the submission, I recorded myself improving. Improving in dance allows dancers to use their creative mind and move however they choose to the sound or flow of the music. I really wanted my creativity take over in the piece. I wanted to show how I interpret that song with my creative mind.
London Bailey
George Washington Carver’s words mean that real progress comes from creativity, curiosity, and being encouraged to think differently. My work reflects this because I use creativity as a tool to explore ideas, express emotions, and tell stories—especially through dance and art. I don’t just try to copy what’s been done before; I experiment, take risks, and use movement to communicate deeper meaning. Carver’s quote reminds me that creativity isn’t just a talent, it’s something that needs support and space to grow. To me, his words are a reminder that when creative minds are encouraged instead of limited, they can lead to new ideas, healing, and change.
Macie Donohue
I feel like it’s telling people to really embrace their creativity and to let it continue to grow.
Mackenzie Braxton
My dance reflects George Washington Carver’s words because it shows how creativity leads to something new. In my video, I dance to the instrumental version of “Bittersuite” by Billie Eilish and use both sharp, accented movements and slow, smooth movements. I wasn’t just moving, but making choices that came from my own creative mind. Mixing strong, precise movements with softer ones helped me create contrast and emotion, which made the combination feel more like me.
Carver’s words mean that creativity should be supported because it allows people to grow and express themselves in new ways. For me, dance is how I stimulate my creative mind. Every movement I make is a decision, whether it’s hitting a sharp accent or letting a movement flow slowly. This combination shows how encouraging creativity can turn ideas and emotions into something meaningful and personal.
Nyiemah Gibbs
| George Washington Carver’s words remind me that creativity is what allows us to turn challenges into growth and unfamiliar places into our own sanctuary for meaningful expression. To me, his quote means that we must nurture our imagination, because creative thinking allows us to shift our perspective and transform the challenges we face into art that reflects our perseverance. My piece, “Echoes of Resilience”, reflects this idea by exploring the process of beating the odds and thriving in a place you may not feel you belong in at first. Through movement, I wanted to express the emotional journey of pushing through chaos, finding strength within, and transforming discomfort into growth. In doing so, my choreography mirrors Carver’s belief that creativity should be stimulated and encouraged, as it becomes the very process of turning struggle into strength. Communicating, how creative expression can become a pathway for healing and self-discovery. Every movement I created in my piece is set to represent persistence and the act of redefining what once feels impossible to overcome into something empowering. My goal is to showcase how strength emerges from struggle and to encourage others to see the beauty in heavy experiences—something we can only do through creativity and imagination. By transforming hardship into growth, we build long-lasting resilience. In this way, my work embodies Carver’s belief that true creativity grows from the courage to transform hardship into beauty. Each challenge we face strengthens us, shaping both the artist and the art itself,allowing us to create impactful art that resonates more deeply and meaningfully with the world around us. |