Blogs
gillian performing on a colorful stage wearing black and in the process of falling

Post-Colonial Approaches to Cultural Fusion

ByGillianRhodesOct 15, 2020

When I lived in Cambodia, I heard a lot about “fusion” pieces when international choreographers came and worked with Cambodian dancers. Fusion is an exciting word and promises something new and innovative. The Holy Grail of cross cultural choreography, one…

an artist impression of a wormhole reddish rippling space on a black background

The Wormhole: Reflections on Deep Cultural Shifts

ByGillianRhodesAug 23, 2020

The body moves quickly, but the soul is slow, catching up only after time.  There is obviously more to say about cultural shifts. Today, I’m just talking about the wormhole. In astronomy, a wormhole is a theoretical structure that connects…

fragmented image of a woman becoming multiple images

The Glitch: A Science Fiction Short Story

ByGillianRhodesAug 22, 2020

Excerpt of The Glitch: A science fiction short story. Read the full story in my short story collection!  Hex and me weren’t rich, never had been. We lived in the slums by the docks, rumbling all night as the rockets…

gillian lying on a desk in a flat with orange lighting

Explorer Ready (Or Not): Art and Astronomy

ByGillianRhodesAug 1, 2020

I have always loved art and astronomy. When I was little, I loved reading Seymour Simon’s picture books about the planets. When my sisters and I started a newsletter called “Girls Express” for our homeschooling, I researched and wrote articles…

gillian reaching out to the camera with a worried expression with quarantine qreations in script

Quarantine Qreations: Performing in Lockdown

ByGillianRhodesJul 25, 2020

When the lockdown hit, I was in the fragile and fraught liftoff stages of getting my own production off the ground. I was about to lock a huge sponsor, I had confirmed my cast, and rehearsals were two weeks into…

gillian leaping through the air with their back to the camera

Vida and The Void – Gallery

ByGillianRhodesMar 12, 2020

Vida and The Void was performed for a special edition of Sway With Us at Olomopolo. The occasion was Remembering Jahanara, in memory of a young dancer who was killed. The piece was about someone coming to terms with their…

gillian kneeling on the ground with hands splayed against the stage

With Love From Gillian at The Colony – Gallery

ByGillianRhodesJan 13, 2020

With Love From Gillian is a piece about courage and loss and resilience – but mostly, it’s a piece about performance. It is a piece that requires me to give all of myself to the audience – everything that I…

promo picture of tedxlahorewomen with gillian's picture

An American Dancer in Pakistan, Volume 8

ByGillianRhodesNov 21, 2018

It’s been a long time since I’ve written a blog, so let’s start with the spoilers: I’m still in Pakistan. In fact, in a twist of life that I still have yet to properly understand, I live here now. I…

gillian in a red dress and a dynamic posture with head down and arms up behind her, the dress flying up and back

Editorial Shoot with Ashna Khan: Gallery

ByGillianRhodesAug 9, 2018

When I first came to Pakistan in 2018, I had the opportunity to shoot with award winning photographer Ashna Khan. We worked on the concept together. Here are the images!

Gillian in a hoodie kneeling with a small lamp

Manifesto 2018

ByGillianRhodesJul 20, 2018

No to being a Changemaker No to leading as Leader No to stigmatizing the normal No to being a Savior No to focusing on impact No to seeking followers and views No to drama No to questioning and analysis No…