On Earth's Body - A New Center for the City of Alexandria Department of Parks and Recreation

I have always been interested in the body/self relationship. As a former fitness instructor and new mother, I have experienced many variations of my body. I was especially interested in what happens during movement or exercise as the body and self become more aware of each other and the spaces around them.

My thesis began with an investigation of the body in context to modern dance. I read several books and took a course on beginning modern dance where we practiced the basic motions and attended performances. I was influenced by modern dance's fluid, natural motion and bare feet in direct contact with the earth which inspires a momentary release of the soul from the body.

It was these initial feelings that I wanted to convey in my thesis...a building that danced with the Earth around it, a building cradled in Earth.