New Dance Performance Conveys Emotion Set to The Carpenters Music

Photo courtesy of Bright Publicity

A Providence roller skating rink introduces the complexity of emotion through dance, as Choreographer Heidi Henderson gives a performance displaying how loud the silence of sadness can be, all while set to music by The Carpenters. The 1970’s-themed show gives us a bittersweet sensation of a heavy heart through her and her team’s silent solos, duets and tender movements to the deep sadness hidden behind Karen Carpenter’s voice. The dance is referred to as, “Untitled Sad Piece,” leaving the audience to watch as she conveys her emotion through her limbs. Carpenter was her guide for this dance due to the observance of the “connection between her music and persona in the queer community of the Philippines,” says Henderson.  “This piece explores love, sadness and connection, all wrapped together and intertwined with the songs.”

Outside of her public performances, Henderson is a professor at Connecticut college, while her work of artistic dance is sourced in Rhode Island. She danced in New York City, where she signed on with “Elephant JANE Dance,” the company she is currently performing with throughout New England. Other dance artists joining her for the event include Sara Gibbons (NY), Tristan Koepke (ME), Edward Rice (NY) and Christina Jane Robson (DC).  

Be sure to witness this beautifully crafted display of feeling and creativity at United Skates of America in Rumford. The performance will be held on Thursday, November 7, with general admission tickets priced at $30 or $20 for students. Roller skating admission is offered after the show for an additional fee. If you want to step into Henderson’s world for a day after viewing the dance, you will have the chance on Sunday, November 3, as she will be teaching a post-modern dance class at Metamorphosis located in Pawtucket. More information on the upcoming performance and class can be found at motionstatearts.org