PERFORMANCE
Performance is where the body tells the truth before I do.
Where breath, sound, weight, and silence become part of the same language.
I search for presence more than perfection, connection more than display.
To the choreography.
To the space.
To the people beside me.
To whatever lives inside the movement that day.
For me, dance has always been both practice and human experience at once.
Photo: Brad Petot
Selected Performance Highlights
Emerging
March 2025
Emerging is a collaborative contemporary work performed as part of the 2025 MFA thesis concert at Case Western Reserve University. Set to a driving percussion score, the piece explores individuality, connection, and collective momentum through distinct movement voices that gradually converged into a unified physical experience. The work highlights the unique kinetic and performance qualities of each dancer while emphasizing collaboration, musicality, and evolving ensemble relationships.
Choreographers
Charlaine Katsuyoshi, Yidi Lin, Richard Oaxaca, and Karen Potter
Costume
Karen Potter
Photos: Brad Petot
Reverie
March 2025
Reverie is a contemporary solo choreographed by Mary-Elizabeth Fenn and restaged/performed by Claire Christie as a significant component of her MFA thesis work at Case Western Reserve University.
Through an expansive and dynamic movement vocabulary, Reverie explores the depth of live performance and the intersection of embodiment, presence, and artistic experimentation. The work demanded sustained physicality, nuanced performance, and a strong commitment to expressive range
Choreographer
Mary-Elizabeth Fenn
Costume
Karen Potter
Photos: Brad Petot
Cave of the Heart
November 2023 - November 2024
Cave of the Heart is a seminal 30-minute work choreographed by Martha Graham inspired by the Greek myth of Medea, exploring themes of jealousy, obsession, and emotional transformation.
As part of the first cast to stage this work outside of the Martha Graham Dance Company, Claire Christie performed the role of The Chorus, a central presence within the work who bridges the emotional landscape of the narrative through physical intensity and dramatic tension.
Choreographer
Martha Graham
Regisseur
Gary Galbraith
Costume Reconstruction
Karen Potter
Photos: Brad Petot