Inclined to Decline at The Rooted Space

July 14th and 15th at 7:30pm
$15 Tickets
The Rooted Space

Rejection letters are an inevitable part of our adult lives. Whether it’s a rejection letter from a college or a job, they almost always have the same uncomfortable effect. The person on the receiving end feels somewhat dejected even if they did not want the position in the first place. While they are invariably unpleasant, our reactions to them may vary widely. We may try to learn from the rejection; we may mope for a period of time then move on with our lives; we may angrily crumble the letter and throw it in the trash; or we may stubbornly decide to apply again and again until acceptance or death.

“I reject your rejection!” shouts one as they flip another dancer over their shoulder, then take a fighting stance. Collectively they form a robotic phalanx that marches forward, stopping to spin furiously from one side to the other like a possessed washing machine.” writes Tristan Bruns of See Chicago Dance after viewing an excerpt of “Inclined to Decline” in First Draft last March. “Inclined to Decline” is a dance piece that repurposes rejection letters and uses them for inspiration rather than dejection. This work will explore the resilience and perseverance needed to move forward past rejection. Frolicking throughout the space, dancers will throw the letters into the air as they leap and fall to the ground. They will pull other dancers up from the ground and support each other through as each dancer finds their way to deal with the rejection letter. Some will tear the letter up and stomp on it while others will delicately lay it on the ground and leave it behind. It is the inaugural performance of the new Chicago modern/contemporary dance company, Darvin Dances.

Darvin Dances is inspired by founder Mariah Eastman’s passion for bringing dance to the people. She believes that dance is for everyone and ticket prices should not stand in the way of helping the general public see dance. We aim to bridge the gap between dance lovers and the dance curious: people who have yet to see themselves in the world of dance or think that it is not for them. We believe in creating works that are diverse in subject and location, relate to both those ingrained in dance culture and on the outskirts.

The performance of “Inclined to Decline” will also present the winners of the Darvin Dances Art Contest. Using rejection as inspiration, the three winners will be announced in June and will have their work for sale at the performance. The three artists also receive a cash prize of $50. This contest was a way to showcase local Chicago visual artists and get their perspective on rejection as well.