“Maiden of the Forest”

Performer: Sara James

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Bio:  Sara James is a multifaceted dancer specializing in aerial and burlesque.  Drawn to the strength, grace, and flexibility required, she has spent the better part of a decade refining these aspects of her craft.  Her individual style has been described as liquid, alluring, and powerful.  This Texas Tease has a heart as big as her hair, and she’ll grace you with her Southern charm - I give you Sara James.

MC Notes:

Inspired by the book Children of the Forest by Elsa Beskow, this piece explores the good inherent in nature and humanity. The Children of the Forest live in harmony with their surroundings - foraging sustainably, aiding their community in times of need, and learning the ways of others who are different from themselves. This piece celebrates the bounty and beauty all around us, if only we take the time to look closely.

We open on a woman in the woods, collecting mushrooms to store for winter. She wears a flowing white dress and a red cap with white spots - if a human were to spot her, she would hide among the ferns and resemble a mushroom. But there are no humans in sight, and the last of the summer rays are shining down, warming her skin and reminding her of the rains and cool weather to come. She begins to dance, cherishing the light and relishing the inevitability of change, happy and content in her simple life.