Thursday, June 19, 2014

UNC Alumna will debut her first one-woman show (Daily Tar Heel article)

Dancer, composer, musician and writer Kaitlin June’s initial plan of becoming a therapist was interrupted when she decided to follow her true dream of performing. 
 
The North Carolina native and UNC alumna will perform her first one-woman show, Lightyear, Friday night at the Durham Arts Council. 
 
The show incorporates dance, acrobatics, live piano and poetry and explores the creation and recollection of how memories are stored in the body. 
 
“I was in a program for a master’s degree in expressive arts therapy, which combines dance therapy, music therapy, visual art therapy and creative writing therapy into one degree,” she said. “In this program we had to do a 10-minute performance about our life in whatever way we chose, so I gravitated to the piano. After the performance, I broke down crying because I realized I really wanted to perform.” 
 
June said she has a rare, highly-superior autobiographical memory, characterized by the ability to recall specific dates and experiences in a way most people cannot. 
 
“I’ve always had a fascination with dates and calendars and the way memory works together,” she said. 
 
Although her performance is autobiographical, June said she hopes the audience will understand it is not just about her. She said she wants her performance to represent a journey through the human experience. 
 
“No matter what race, gender or financial situation, everyone knows what it feels like to be disappointed or what excitement feels like, and that is the journey I’m inviting the audience on,” June said. “We all have different versions because our life experiences are different, but the common thread is our emotional experience, and that’s what unifies us.” 
 
Writer Rremida Shkoza said she has worked with June in the past by allowing her to write music for one of her shows. She said June has a very incredible and intuitive side as a musician to convey a specific message to the audience.  

"She’s so open to connecting to the audience,” she said. “Sometimes performers forget that it’s not the indulgence of performing, but it’s also the connection with the audience. Her work really reflects that.” 
 
Performance and health communications teaching assistant Marie Garlock said when June creates something, it is about universal human concerns — inspiring people from diverse backgrounds. 
 
“It’s a fantastic combination of physical powers,” she said. “She is very strong, athletic and graceful in how she moves her body and brings a delicate approach to the conceptual material that she’s bringing to life. She has a powerful physicality, but a nuanced approach to the ideas she brings to life.”

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Hello! Welcome to my Blog!

Hello! My name is Jasmine Neely, and this is my first blog post! I am so excited to share with you all what I love to do, what's on my mind, and hopefully create conversation about the topics I post.

I've been encouraged to start a blog since I have been in college, so today is the day that I've finally done it. I can't wait to explore what blogging is all about and please feel free to comment and ask me questions!

I will be posting about dance, some fashion, art, love and relationships, and things that I have learned based on some of my life experiences in the 20 years that I've been on this earth.

Some quick facts about me are:

-I love to dance. I love the art and everything about it. I have been a dancer since I was 3 years old
-I am currently a Public Relations student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
-I'm double jointed, yeah I can bring my arms over my head with my hands clasped together. If you want to cringe in awe, just ask me to do it :) it feels good afterwards
-I was born and raised in Charlotte, NC. I love my city
-I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE chocolate. Especially things dipped in it (i.e. chocolate covered strawberries)
-I'm a May baby/ I am a Taurus 
-I'm a Jesus lover (praise him)