DPJ’s Urban Form series looks at the interplay between movement and surroundings through the lens of dancers and architecture in downtown Phoenix.
Dancer Jordyn Siegfried. Photo by Ashley Baker.
“Let the sun guide you to the newest possibilities and the deepest parts of your capability.” -Ashley
The fountain outside the entrance to the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism on ASU’s Downtown campus is a small and understated addition to the concrete structure. Watching the dancers slowly inch their way onto the watery concrete and rock surface, there was an air of enthused challenge; their slick feet along the changing terrain as the sun peaked through the surrounding trees and buildings.
This moment was a testament to the relationship between the natural and the manufactured, the calm of content and the promise of ambition. As dancer Jordyn Siegfried began to arch her back, she created an impressive shape, yet continued to take the angle further. This fountain and moment are symbolic of the presence of the aspiring professional amidst the bustling city. Soon Central and Van Buren will be filled again with university students gathered around this fountain, aspiring to be something more.
