to yell in quiet places

Commissioned by the UCSB Dance Company (2023)

Restaged and performed for MashUp’s International Women’s Day Festival (2023)

To yell in quiet places began with an exploration of femininity and is driven by the sensation of feeling lost in the expectations that are placed on the female identity. Questioning and researching the standard of the “perfect figure” over time, that has turned into this unattainable woman, we oppositely explore the dark, seemingly ugly places that exist inside us making us individual, complex and intelligent contributors to society. Connecting poetic images of peeling, falling and roots we explore expectations of women from a young age — waiting to be rescued by a man, picking petals off a flower saying “he loves me, he loves me not,” catching the bouquet at a wedding, step touching down the aisle on your wedding day. We experience femininity as a performed act and also, a way of existing by employing laughter as a tool of defense, protection, discomfort, hysteria and joy, laughing our way through the challenges of existing as a modern woman.

“Gianna Burright shared her familiar choreographic elegance in “To Yell in Quiet Places.” The cast of six female dancers embodied Burright’s love of mid-twentieth-century music and costume aesthetics while utilizing dance theater structures, including theatrical props, spoken word, and luscious contemporary partnering. The use of both fresh wildflowers and red roses made for a whimsical and romantic outcome that suited the pastel slacks, skirts, vests, and blouses worn by the dancers. Plucking petals, showering them from inside an umbrella, and tossing them through the space added lightness to the evening that was much needed. The excellent technique of performers allowed for airy tip-toe walks through the high level as well as supple floorwork. Their additional ability to play with facial expressions and spoken word (“Where are we?”) made the unique world of this work come to life.”

- Beth Megill, LA Dance Review