September 22, 2024
This year, the Equinox took place on the 22nd day of September, at 44 minutes after the hour. I love numbers and I know I wanted to celebrate this auspicious time. The Equinox marks the precise moment when day and night are of equal length, occurring exactly between the two solstices. This event is experienced simultaneously across the globe. This is why we’ve chosen to highlight the number 44 in both the number of dancers and the seconds of our dance—emphasizing the universal harmony that the Equinox represents.
Our team included Seungkyo Jung from South Korea, Elina Sargysan from Armenia currently living in Minnesota, and Andrea Hanson who grew up in Hong Kong and Seoul and is a Senior at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. When discussing our project earlier this fall, they came up with the idea that the 44 dancers would send in their 44-second dance videos ahead of time, and during the Equinox, we would show the premiere!
In addition to our Film Premiere (edited by Elina and Andrea!), we were led in a ritual by Bogyeol Choi from South Korea, at the exact moment of the Equinox, 44 minutes after the hour. Bogyeol runs a School for Community Dance in Seoul, and I met her last October when she invited me to South Korea to choreograph community dances. At the Zoom gathering on Sunday, the participants discussed how we each find balance in our lives, and how we can, as a gathered community, together encompass the Equinox. Dancers also shared about the spot they chose to film their video; a place where they felt balance. We were delighted to have over 80 participants from all over the world, including dancers from Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa, South America, and North America!
While the Zoom community was open to all, the dancers themselves were all women. When women stand together, we create a global resonance of coherence. By coming together, we can be creators of goodness, unity, and positive change through the vibrations we emit. Our aim was to radiate balance, peacefulness, and positive alignment, making a meaningful impact on ourselves and the planet.
Our 44 Dancers: Alys Ayumi Ogura, Andrea Hanson, Annie Holcombe, Antinea Jimena, Barbara Bauer, Bernadette Knaeble, Carey Siriani, Carol Gariano, Catherine Baumgartner, Catherine Brennan, Christine Mantey, Dany Dhen, Deborah Heltzer, Debra Donaldson, Elina Sargsyan, Emily Higgins-Norberg, Geum Jung Kwon, Gizelle Salame, Halunaa, Holly Anne, Ioanna Koutiva, Jennifer Elam, Jessica Abejar, June Beyer, JungYoon Kim, Keren Brown, Louise Miner, Maren Waldman, Maria Sangiorgi, Mary Lee Sanders, Mary Willmeng, May Kesler, Millie Baker, Mindy Levokove, Natasha Alhadeff-Jones, Sarah Arnett, Seungkyo Jung, Smile Garcia, Sujin Yeo, Tara Stepenberg, Tracy Moroney, Tricia Mary Lee, Victoria Day, Wendy Morrell