Overview
Developed and performed by Ceci Sun, stage 3. is an intimate contemporary dance duet designed to study the physical and psychological landscapes of grief and trauma. Conceived as a physical movement framework in late 2025, the duet made its official stage debut on November 1, 2025, at the Center Stage Theater in Santa Barbara, California, as part of the Collective Collaborative 2025 performance festival.
Choreographic and Conceptual Framework
The work explores emotional imbalance, body-mind dissociation, and the ongoing human effort to restore equilibrium within internal chaos. Tracing somatic counterpoints, the choreography transitions between heavy collapses, suspended tension, and intense weight-sharing. It functions as an ongoing movement study observing how the physical form processes grief, emphasizing the continuous strain of seeking alignment when internal structures are disrupted.
Sound and Costume Design
A crucial component of stage 3. is its raw and highly atmospheric auditory landscape. The performance score layers the industrial, minimalist compositions “Onna” and “Shugo” by UVB76 with original vocal tracking, ambient recordings, and acoustic manipulation produced directly by Ceci Sun. The physical mechanics and intimate dialogue of the duet are visually framed by stark, minimalist costumes designed entirely by Sun.
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