Laura Electa Hayes
Choreography - 16 Counts to Community
1. Look for a place to be separate, together (turn head and body in a slow circle, stopping to
focus on an area to one side of you)
2. Allow someone to comfort you (take the hand of the persxn nearest you, and move away
from the group together)
3. Be alone, be together (turn back to back, and sit down facing away from each other)
4. Be still (be still)
5. Remind yourselves you are not alone (both look around, both move so that backs are
pressing and bending together)
6. Comfort and be comforted (clasp hands, still back to back)
7. Notice that you are not really alone (pairs start to notice other pairs, seated just as they
are)
8. See the world around you (pairs begin nodding, looking at other pairs and nodding, until
all eyes have met)
9. Hear the common heartbeat (pairs unclasp one hand and begin lightly beating a heartbeat
rhythm on the floor with the unclasped hand)
10. Pause (everyone stops, hands unclasp, pairs move to a kneeling position - facing each
other as a group in a circle)
11. Know your own heartbeat (heartbeat rhythm is repeated, this time with the opposite hand)
12. Pause (everyone stops)
13. Reflect (heads that were formerly gazing at their own hands beating the floor look up and
see everyone else in the circle)
14. Remember that you are not alone (The circle stands, together)
15. See your community (The heartbeat rhythm is repeated, this time through stomping of the
feet - one person at a time does an 8 count while everyone else focuses on them, until the
last person has gone)
16. Be in community (the 8 count is repeated twice, this time with everyone joining together. At the last count, all heads look to the sky)
focus on an area to one side of you)
2. Allow someone to comfort you (take the hand of the persxn nearest you, and move away
from the group together)
3. Be alone, be together (turn back to back, and sit down facing away from each other)
4. Be still (be still)
5. Remind yourselves you are not alone (both look around, both move so that backs are
pressing and bending together)
6. Comfort and be comforted (clasp hands, still back to back)
7. Notice that you are not really alone (pairs start to notice other pairs, seated just as they
are)
8. See the world around you (pairs begin nodding, looking at other pairs and nodding, until
all eyes have met)
9. Hear the common heartbeat (pairs unclasp one hand and begin lightly beating a heartbeat
rhythm on the floor with the unclasped hand)
10. Pause (everyone stops, hands unclasp, pairs move to a kneeling position - facing each
other as a group in a circle)
11. Know your own heartbeat (heartbeat rhythm is repeated, this time with the opposite hand)
12. Pause (everyone stops)
13. Reflect (heads that were formerly gazing at their own hands beating the floor look up and
see everyone else in the circle)
14. Remember that you are not alone (The circle stands, together)
15. See your community (The heartbeat rhythm is repeated, this time through stomping of the
feet - one person at a time does an 8 count while everyone else focuses on them, until the
last person has gone)
16. Be in community (the 8 count is repeated twice, this time with everyone joining together. At the last count, all heads look to the sky)
Laura is an undergrad at Pitzer College whose work focuses on highlighting the value of FISI students’ experiential knowledge and lived experience.