DPJ’s Urban Form series looks at the interplay between movement and surroundings through the lens of dancers and architecture in downtown Phoenix.
Dancer Kalin Green. Photo: Ashley Baker.
In downtown Phoenix there are a number of buildings that throughout their history have served as gathering places for multiple generations of our community. The Westward Ho is one of those places that grounds the city in both architectural wonder, but also in the spirit of community. Throughout my youth in Phoenix I saw this historical landmark as a marvel, but it wasn’t until my junior year of college that I became aware of the many events, including ones held in partnership with ASU’s School of Film, Dance, and Theatre, that were held there to promote communal connections. Though things have changed over time at The Westward Ho, it still towers as a prominent mark of the downtown Phoenix skyline and a symbol of our city.
As we created this image, with Kalin Green experiencing the gravel beneath her feet, I found her choice of simple, interwoven postures spoke to how I felt about The Westward Ho’s presence downtown Phoenix. It is stable and in need of continuous support to maintain both internally and externally, but it is always looking to shed light on the greatness that it contains.
