Jill Sigman has a way of inspiring carpe diem in her subjects. Upon entering Schonberg Dance Studio on Saturday, Jill directed us to walk around and “get to know the room.” We walked fast, we ran, we filled the space, we bent down and smelled the floor. My mind could only wonder for a second before I remembered where I was: lying on the floor, inspecting the grains in the wood at Jill’s direction. Later we filled containers to the brim with water, until their meniscuses were convex. While walking around holding one of these containers and trying not to spill, it was impossible to focus elsewhere. And what if we traded our water-filled containers with one another? So much to think about! Whether it be through the physical—tasking us to build a field of sunflowers and ornamental corn on a tarp taped to the floor of the dance studio—or through thought—what is a field?—my experience stood apart from the often routine nature of life as a student. So thank you Jill, for spending eight straight hours, for commanding that block of time, for confining me to the present moment.
Aviva Hirsch ‘16