When I was 13, I wanted to be a clinical psychologist and a Broadway star. I thought I was too tall for my age and I had a boyfriend who held my hand at play practice and took me on dates to California Pizza Kitchen. When I was 13, I was convinced that I was smarter than most people I knew. 

 

When I was 13, I discovered how quickly I could change my personality by changing my clothing.  When I was 13, I was heavily influenced by beauty YouTubers and made my own videos. When I was 13, I thought that I had to rely on other people to tell me who I am and what I am worth.

 

When I was 13, I tried to develop an identity for myself through my interests, rather than my authentic self. I relied on the communities I was a part of to feel a sense of self. When I was 13, I felt my problems were simultaneously invalid and also bigger than words could explain. I was sure I knew what I wanted but had no idea how I would get there.

 

Dance Nation reminds us that the people we were when we were 13 still live inside us. They are fanged and feral. They are wild, bubbling over with potential, and unsure of where they are headed. They are hungry and haunted. 

 

In the second-to-last scene of Dance Nation, Clare Barron presents us with a “triptych of girlhood.” This moment captures all of the uncertainty, joy, and terror of growing up by positioning three characters on the brink of something new together. 

 

In this actor packet, you’ll find a triptych of our own. The website is divided into three sections: self, character, and community. We encourage you to treat this dramaturgy experience as a choose-your-own adventure of sorts, exploring each section of the website as it relates to yourself, your character, and the community we are building together. 

​

Much care and compassion,

The Dance Nation Dramaturgy Team

Olivia Dunn, Liv Garcia, and Leah Geisler