Choreography is one of Tori’s greatest passions. Her dedication to bringing awareness to and discussing mental health manifests in her work. By utilizing contemporary techniques and improvisational practices for movement generation, in conjunction with heavy academic research, Tori attempts to depict difficult topics through movement with empathetic understanding.
pyrrich* (2022-present)
Heal: Gather Gala, Pioneers: Women in Dance (2023)Trifecta Dance Festival (2023)
Were the costs worth the victory? "pyrrich" is an optical expose of the psychosocial effects of deployment on military families.
*In Progress
in the aftermath (2021-present)
Expand Community Arts Alliance Works in Progress Showcase, Trifecta Dance Festival, Detroit Dance City Festival, Charlotte Dance Festival (2023)
“in the aftermath” depicts an individual facing the expectation to maintain a high level of productivity in the workplace after experiencing a traumatic event.
The soloist's movement echos that of the other two dancers and is oftentimes diametrically opposed in quality to present how the human brain might process, exaggerate, and misremember catastrophic events. It seems as if the soloist slips in and out of a memory as she navigates the shift of isolated moments and unison phrase work. The two other dancers represent an evocation of combative interaction and the way in which our remembrances might haunt us, even in our daily lives.
fall (of) (2022)
Trifecta Dance Festival, TDC Presents: Menagerie, Detroit Dance City Festival
“fall (of)” relies on the dancers' athleticism and dramatics to demonstrate the difficulty of traversing discussions where each participating party holds dissenting viewpoints.
Abstract imagery employed by the choreographer enables the audience to engage in a portrayal of idioms such as "walking on eggshells" and "crab mentality" throughout the work. The piece intentionally has no resolution of conflict as most difficult conversations often end inevitably in blowups, badgering, and breaking points.
what could have been (2021-2022)
Metamorphosis; Fearless Evolution, Gather Gala, Alluvion Dance Chicago’s Emergence
"what could have been" is an echo of a relationship that never happened. The line between reality and false memories is blurred in the minds of the performers as they explore connection and familial bonds through the duration of the piece.
This piece was based on a story provided by Erasing the Distance and the On Your Feet Foundation. The work centers around a family who chose open adoption when undergoing pregnancy. The mother constantly battled with the feeling of potentially losing their connection to their biological child and often dreamed of the life she could have had.
in vain (2021)
Metamorphophosis; Fearless Evolution
"in vain" is a duet created on Trifecta Dance Collective's second company, TDC 2. The company was created to allow students pursuing academia to also gain professional dance work experience without compromising on their educational goals. 'in vain" tackles the competitive nature of dance environments and the tendency to feed into ego, comparison, and jealousy to no avail.
*note this duet was created and conceptualized in under 2 hours.
in it. (2020-2021)
Trifecta Dance Festival, Fearless Compassion
“in it.” is a physical depiction of dissociation or the “disconnection of and lack of continuity between thoughts, memories, surroundings, actions, and identity.” The work explores the disconnect that comes with being a participant of society without cognizant roots in reality. The piece is intended to provide the space for an audience to cultivate an empathetic understanding of what individuals struggling with dissociation endure.
Neighboring Matters (2018-2020)
Trifecta Dance Festival, American College Dance Association, Loose Leaves Showcase
This duet brings awareness to mental health through a visual representation of what it feels like to experience loneliness, panic attacks, and severe existential depression. The resolution for the piece comes from the dancers finding peace and support in community/neighbors. This sheds light on the understanding that one is not alone in their struggles or life.
You’ll be okay (2018)
Charlotte Dance Festival, Range of Motion Dance Ensemble
A narrative of a young woman's battle with eating disorders, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Collaboration inspires Tori to step out of her comfort zone and work to create meaningul, impactful work with other artists.
Tori collaborated with Chicago musician, Mooncess, and created a dance film for “Heart of Gems” and “Space Dreams.” The goal of the project was to depict the strength, resiliency, and empowerment of a woman dealing with the aftermath of a break up.