DIAGNOSE/UNITY: AN EXPLORATION OF THE ART OF HUMANITY IN DANCE AND THEATRICAL REPRESENTATIONS OF HIV/AIDS

Diagnose/Unity is a devised dance piece that was performed at the Purchase Cares charity event on May 5th, 2018. I not only acted as the choreographer, but I was also the main character. The story is about a man who goes out to party one night, goes home with a stranger, and soon discovers he is infected with HIV. In the unfortunate circumstance, he closes himself off to everyone around him and waits for his untimely demise. After being dragged out of his slump by some friends, he begins to see that the loneliness was all in his head. His friends help him see the virus as a reason to celebrate the life he’s been given. Diagnose refers to my character’s circumstance of being infected and, subsequently, diagnosed; Unity refers to the friendships and support system that surrounds my character as they help cheer him up.