Pivot
Rileigh Goldsmith’s BFA thesis “Pivot” is an immersive virtual reality exhibition designed as a sensorial walk-through experience, utilizing VR headsets for an up-close and engaging viewing experience. As the very first undergraduate dance student at the University of Michigan to present her work outside of a live performance, Goldsmith combines 360º dance performance with introspective prompts, guiding viewers through themes of forging new paths and shedding ties which no longer serve them. Pivot” was located in the Duderstadt Center Gallery in Ann Arbor, Michigan from January 10th-21st, 2024.
Act I - Question
When was the last time you sat with yourself, alone with your thoughts, staring down the web of whims and worries. you so ardently avoid?
Just you. When was the last time you removed yourself from the path you’d been barreling down, subtracted yourself from the monotony, ritual, or habit? Are you aware of the uneven concrete that paves your daily commute, of the five voices you listen most closely to? of the lyrics which permeate your subconscious mind as you walk home from class? When was the last time you zoomed out, exchanged close-up for wide angle, considered what’s to my right? to my left? When you wonder “are the pebbles smoother on that path?” “will the grass sit softer beneath my feet?” Will you pivot?
Written by: Rileigh Goldsmith Spoken by: Krisilyn Frazier
Act II - Untether
I never truly understand how deeply I am tied to something until it is gone. This is the most terrifying part of untethering – the familiar dissipates, and you are left to wade through the deafening silence of untying. You are free, but alone. Where will you go? What could possibly exist beyond this room of broken bridges?
Choreography & Performance: Rileigh Goldsmith
Music: “meta angel,” FKA twigs, CAPRISONGS, (Atlantic Records, 2022)
Lighting Design: Alex Li
Act III - Pivot
I often fantasize that our universe is made up of infinite realities, each containing a unique “you” which has traveled a specific path. In some realities, you remain tethered to toxicity, apathy, and stagnancy. In others, you are empowered, confident and unbound. What might happen if the “you” today caught a glimpse of “you” who had opened a different door? In this movement fantasy, our highest selves pivot, transitioning from silence and fear to joy and agency.
Choreography: Rileigh Goldsmith
Music: Johnny Mercer, “Moon River Cha Cha” Henry Mancini, Breakfast at Tiffany’s (50th Anniversary Edition), (RCA Victor, 1961); “SAOKO” Rosalía, MOTOMAMI, (Columbia Records, 2022)
Performance: Allison Dobbins, Brooke Forrey, Rileigh Goldsmith, Curry Jackson, Chloe Kim, Melisa Orduna, Mya Waple, Olivia Weber, Whitney Zhang
