juaneirizarry

Two years ago, in 2023, I received an email stating I was offered the Advanced Opportunity Program (AOP) Fellowship and the AOP Renewal in 2024, receiving my master's for free and being paid to attend.

For the past two years, I have been on the computer between 12-20 hours a day, working on my thesis and creating my dance company, Neocortex Dance Theatre Company . From the highs to the lows and back up again, my thesis examines the spectrum of corporeal psychological experiences and fluctuating mental states associated with bipolar disorder and inspects the correlation between bipolar disorder and creativity within professional dancers through interdisciplinary studies, qualitative interviews, and autoethnographic critical self-reflection, and a choreographic investigation (Up Again, Down Again, Up Again: A Study of Dance and Bipolar Disorder).

Yesterday, I walked across the stage and graduated, earning my MFA in Dance.

Thank you to all my friends, family, coworkers, peers, dancers, teachers, UWM faculty and MFA Cohort, my thesis committee, professors, directors, managers, theatre ensembles, audience members, photographers, videographers, musicians, production crew, acquaintances, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, strangers, former lovers, and former friends or friends who drifted apart who have helped me throughout my life. Thank you to all the people who let me couch surf at their place, protected, fed, sheltered, listened to me, let me cry on your shoulder, let me vent, called me out, held space, and just were there for me!

I can't fit everyone on here but I want to give a special thanks to , , , , .lewis.7146 , , .lockett.5, , , , , , , , my Cohort, .voss.art and all the dancers and production crew within this research.

"The Morosity of Dactylanthus Taylorii"

I just finally submitted my last final, and I am officially done with my first year in the MFA Dance Program at

I am so honored that I received the Advanced Opportunity Program Fellowship (AOP), which has allowed me to earn my degree for free!

Stay tuned for my thesis (pending approval), correlating bipolar disorder and dance, and the start of my dance company next year!

Thank you so much for all the support from my partner, professors, cohort, directors, family, and friends! I could not have done it without all of your help!

.lockett.5


Sarah Homes, Sam Hanson

Sildance/Acrodanza at

Stay tuned for our Cuba Tour in 2 weeks!

Had a beautiful and fantastic time with talented and amazing humans!