This article was written with Valerie DeLatte!
On Saturday, May 28th, I surprisingly found tears welling up in my eyes as I experienced the beautiful movement of Bailey Harper and Kimberly Chmielewski. For 45-minutes the pair conveyed a stunning narrative about growing up, growing together, finding love, and feeling loss. The intimate setting of the Marlene Yu Museum’s gymnasium-turned- art gallery was dimly lit by floor lamps and the scene was set with two large, heavy armchairs. The musical composition integrated a range of styles, from African beats to French swing, paralleling the dancers’ variety of movements.
“We took the dance performance out of a normal theater in order to tell a story that is relatable and accessible. I want the audience to be able to see my facial expressions,” said Harper in an interview. She explained that the performance dived into the aspects of meaningful relationship building.
“In the end, just like experiencing art with someone else, Kim and I are affected by the bond of creating a shared memory,” said Harper. “This is the way that friends become family and family become friends.”
Harper is skilled at crafting movements that demonstrate the intimacy with others, both physically present and implied. With an arm threaded through her partner’s back, feet touching, and head rested upon the other’s shoulder, a simple embrace becomes powerfully emotive. The movements were designed to convey creating space for love to enter our lives and remind us of the empty spaces left behind by love ones we have lost.
“I focused on movement that creates space for someone else. During a piece I call ‘To Love and To Lose,’ I paid homage to a boyfriend of mine who passed away. I outlined him in the space while Kim’s movement included some of the ticks of her grandmother, who recently passed,” said Harper.
In such poignant moments as well as in other joyful scenes that demonstrated the prowess of the lifelong dancers, Harper successfully distills the beauty of being affected by a strong bond.
Bailey Harper is classically trained and performs with The Hannah Khan Company in Denver, Colorado. The piece she choreographed, “Sabra,” is a culmination of her experience in classical ballet training, an African dance touring company, jazz courses, and character work. It was also the first project she fully managed on her own. Harper dedicated this performance to her vibrant 90-year- old grandmother, Sabra, who was the first to fill Baily’s arms once the performance ended.
Harper’s gift to Shreveport reached me in a way I did not expect and I am looking forward to seeing more from this extraordinarily talented Shreveport native.