We recently connected with Sydney Sorenson and have shared our conversation below.
Sydney, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
We lived with my grandfather growing up and he was the epitome of resilience and humility. Even though his parents were poor, he worked hard as a welder to provide for his family. He almost lost his leg in a steel mill accident, yet somehow I never heard him complain. Despite setbacks, he remained youthful, was an avid reader, incredibly punctual, active, and always present. Hearing stories and watching him navigate life’s challenges taught me to bounce back and adapt to change. Above all, Grandpa Vern always made time for me and was the first to celebrate my wins. I have a bell he made hanging in my kitchen that rings in memory of him.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am an Associate Professor and newly appointed Dance Coordinator at a community college on the Central Coast of California. I’m most excited about guiding students to find their own authentic way of moving to generate choreography, as well as inviting them to create with other arts disciplines. The Fine Arts Department is housed in a large, beautiful building that encourages inspiration through collaboration.
I feel most like myself when I am creating, whether it’s dancing, painting, or listening to music. My story involves a consistent practice rooted in movement, both within my own body and through my geographical locations. Due to a recent injury, I’ve realized that I’ve used movement both to heal myself and as a distraction. Dance is an innate part of me, connecting me to my core self.
The center of my creative work involves building a multi-sensory experience for audience members, inspired by food, art, and music. My goal is to provide dancers with the opportunity to work as professionals beyond a college setting, within the context of a contemporary dance company that is collaborative. I am looking to work with creatives who are open to building events that lead audience members to connect within a communal setting by bringing music, visual arts, food and dance together.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Challenge yourself with limitations that lead to newfound creativity.
Maintain a consistent creative practice outside of a work environment.
Remain a student of your own practice, allowing yourself to evolve.
The lesson I am constantly learning is how to apply concepts I learn through my creative practice to my life. While I’m excited about how my choreographic work will unfold, I tend to be uncomfortable with the unknown outside of the creative process. I would advise creatives who are early in their journey to get out of their own way, trust their artistic voice, and be open to the nuances that will reveal themselves in everyday life.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
The last nine months have been the most profound and emotionally overwhelming of my life. Due to a tibial fracture, my body was forced to pause and self-reflect. I’ve spent the majority of the last year observing people move and listening to my brain overwork. Although I could not rely on my regular practice of moving my body, I learned to walk myself back through my life as I physically relearned to walk. This process forced me to slow down, pay attention, and listen to the parts of myself that I have been avoiding. It’s been incredibly challenging and rewarding.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sydneysorenson.com/
- Instagram: @sydneymoves
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sydneysorenson9305
Image Credits
Michelle Coppini
Brittany Heiland
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