"Carragheen Moss"

Created as part of her Senior Concert at San Diego State University, "Carragheen Moss" fulfills Melissa's desire to place her dancers in a world of her own invention. The piece examines how people can co-exist in a unit while still retaining moments of individuality. In the dance, Melissa draws inspiration from ocean elements including images of seaweed and fish.

thumb|300px|rightRather than beginning with a set destination in mind, Melissa allowed the dance's atmosphere to develop throughout her rehearsals. The launching point for generating material came with images of seaweed and how it moves fluidly in water. With that idea in mind, she developed movement which drew from this imagery. Eventually, Melissa allowed this seaweed image to lead her to fish imagery and how fish move in schools.

Repetition of a common movement (known as a motif) can create unity even if the movements are performed at different times, location, or orders. By varying these elements, Melissa was able to instill a sense of uniqueness despite the common movements. As a result, her dancers appear to co-exist in a unit like, a school of fish, while still remaining individuals.

Quotes from the Choreographer's Journal


 * "maybe 3 against 1 is too obvious"


 * "a gestural language"


 * "I want to be careful not to structure patterns in an obvious way with no new information"

Program Information
 * "What is the relationship between the dancers; what is their attitude? Do they know we are watching them, or are they in their own world completely? Do they want us to watch?"
 * Title: "Carragheen Moss"
 * Choreographer: Melissa Sanderson
 * Dancers: Martita Abril, Lauren Atkins, Angelica Bell, Andrew Holmes
 * Music: Everything To Come, and We Say Goodbye To Ourselves by Eluvium
 * Costume: Melissa Sanderson
 * Set: Melissa Sanderson

Question to Consider:


 * 1) How does the artist use repetition to develop a sense of group and individuality?
 * 2) How does this concept of "the need to stand out from the crowd" apply to your own personal experiences?
 * 3) What qualities in the movement suggest ocean life, fish, or seaweed?

Click to add a response: Audience Response Page