Grief, Hope, and the Ethereal Body

By Leah Terada

“If we could have one moment to interact with the death of our past, how would we react?”

For her NEXT STEP choreographic piece this year, Amanda Morgan conceptualizes the etherical body as one might experience, respond to, and seek solace in the presence of death.

Her working title, Ether, describes a hypothetical formless odorless organic compound that carries light and derives from the Greek word “aithēr,” meaning “upper air”. Similarly, “Aether,” understood as the fifth element that surrounds us, represents the energy beyond our earthly existence, occupying a space that stretches into realms beyond the terrestrial sphere. For Morgan, both ether and Aether are elemental forces that are evocative of the spiritual dotted line of existence and purgatory.

Last we spoke, Morgan’s been a puppeteer in the studios; curating phantom duets and weaving invisible threads between dancers and abstract concepts. A key point of interest for Morgan this year is the constant negotiation of balance between people. Physically, she’s finding the interesting connection that tension describes as it simultaneously supports and restricts movement. The intimacy and fragility of connectedness, entangled with grief, fear, and hope, are creating delicate yet fruitful grounds for her new work.

One of the many inspirational images for her new piece, she shared, is the image of the “Great Beyond” from Pixar’s Soul. The curious conveyor belt certainly feels like a place of unknown, fear, and nostalgia. However, no matter how grim a situation, darkness continues to give way to lightness, she reminds me. Morgan’s new work is not just about grief and the unknown, but also about the thawing comfort and celebration of light and connection. Working with a group of sixteen Professional Division dancers, it’s hard not to be inspired by their tenacious youth and sorority. Morgan hopes to continue choreographically exploring connections with her dancers and the stories they bring to the table.

Morgan’s exploration of light and shadow extends further in her internship with resident lighting designer Reed Nakayama. As part of her undergraduate studies in arts management at Seattle University, she took the opportunity to work with Nakayama during the development of PNB’s new production of The Sleeping Beauty. Morgan plans to integrate what she has learned about stage lighting into her exploration of the etherical body to illuminate the themes of her work on the NEXT STEP stage.

Asking probing questions and pushing beyond the bounds of comfort has always been in Morgan’s nature. Choreography, for her, is a means of being seen and heard, and this year’s NEXT STEP piece is no exception. She draws strength from her connections with her dancers and, with each project, finds that her ability to communicate and collaborate grows stronger and more efficient.

Expect to see thoughtful movement, creative negotiation, and silver linings throughout her NEXT STEP this year!

NEXT STEP is a single show performance at McCaw Hall on June 13, 2025 at 7:30pm. Tickets are on sale April 8!