The meaning of ‘Emerald’
(Written on the 27th September 2025 at 22:58PM)
Photographed by ÇOTEARS (model - KILAMA)
Co-cinematographer: Peter Flower
Emerald, is a contemporary dance short film, meant to tell the story of becoming.
Firstly, I can’t thank the wonderful human being you see above (Nicole Kilama), for wanting to be a part of this project. To give a little context, I used to do dance professionally till I was about 17. Nicole and I, for a short period of time, were part of the same afterschool dance club (separate to our independent classes outside of school). Eventually, I gave up dance to focus on what I do now (music), but I never lost that love of dance, and where movement and music collide.
I’m sure Nicole, like anyone in my life, must have thought I really lost it when I explained to her the plans I had for this 3 years ago. Everyone looks at me like a mad woman when I talk about the ideas I have…
But, I had her hooked, and she was on board from the beginning. I cannot describe the nostalgia and joy brought back to me, to sit and talk Nicole through the story behind the music, and how she would use her body to communicate that meaning. To show her the choreography I had, and to sit and work through it together until we were both happy with it. To rehearse over it together and really perfect it. I really have missed dancing, so to know I can still reach for it in my music was such a blessing.
So, what is ‘Emerald’ all about?
Photographed by ÇOTEARS
It’s about growing through the stages of life, trying to discover who one is. The gradual acceptance of the self. The whole piece is one progressive piece of music that comes back to the starting point again, but keeps developing, evolving and growing into more. So let’s break the story down together shall we?
Section 1: Arise
I call this section “Arise”, because this is where the dancer wakes up to a new day. She warms up to this new beginning re-presented to her, as she rediscovers this world once again. Everything is simple, and places a strong focus and close up on how she stretches, and adjusts to coming out of the mould of slumber.
Section 2: Autonomy
This is where the dancer begins pushing the boundaries. She’s fully awake now (both in mind and body), and beginning to recognise what is me? What is not me? How far can I go?
Everything here is very explorative and curious, as the dancer familiarises herself with the confines of her frame.
Section 3: Automaton
This is a performance. The dancer has conformed to the restrictions placed before her. A set choreography that ‘looks’ the way the world wants you to look. Pleasant to the eye, but far from reality. It’s meant to be quite rigid and technical in movement. A perfected beauty, but you can see the loss of self and identity within the dancer to please her audience.
Section 4 (Build): Alter/Altar
This section is a continuation of a technical performance, but now the dancer begins to break. She starts to pick at it and make fun of it, killing the inauthentic part of her identity. mocking the norm and the ideal. Pretending to be part of it all, but her face says otherwise. She acknowledges the beauty of it for what it is, but seeks to find her own voice in this space.
One where she decides.
Section 5 (Main section): Authenticity
She is moving in total freedom. She’s found herself and what she loves. This section bursts into colour, as the dancer breaks out of the mould and rejects the idea of conforming. You see her personality, for what it is, not what the world makes of it.
She has found happiness.
Follow Nicole @nicole_kilama
What are your thoughts on Emerald? Did you notice any additional or hidden narratives being communicated through this piece?
Sarah
If you’d like to check out the BTS of putting this all together, make sure to subscribe to my youtube channel ÇOTEARS