Quiet Pulse: The Dance of Solitude

Researchers have defined solitude in various ways throughout history, and its meaning continues to evolve. In today's fast-paced world, it's important to ask: How can we embrace solitude in our stressful, constraint-filled daily lives?

I drew inspiration from two people close to me—my mom and my roommate. My parents work together, so my mom is rarely alone except when she’s in the bathroom. She takes long showers, does her skincare routine, and listens to podcasts during this time. Similarly, my roommate spends extended periods on the toilet, playing Candy Crush. They both describe this time in the bathroom as the most peaceful part of their day.

In solitude, our bodies may be confined to one space, but our minds are free to wander, experiencing a wide range of emotions. With its exaggerated movements, dance has a unique ability to convey these emotions and “speak” to people in ways that go beyond the everyday. I used a motion capture system to record the dancer’s movements, adding visual effects to enhance the emotional expression.

This video documents a live dance performance that portrays a personal journey through solitude, combining motion capture, projection, modern dance, and a stage set. While the journey doesn’t represent one person's experience, it serves as a collective expression of solitude that resonates with many. I believe solitude is a multifaceted experience, and the performance is divided into four chapters—Escape, Dissociation, Choice, and Solitude—to reflect its different phases. Each chapter has its own choreography, music, and visual effects, with a sense of confinement carried throughout the performance via the physical stage set.

This piece isn’t meant to be a step-by-step guide to finding peace in solitude. Instead, I hope it encourages self-reflection and helps people uncover their own quiet pulse within solitude.