The playing level is never even for everyone. The world becomes more aware of this with each passing year, largely due to those who are willing to speak up about it and the amplification of this message by those who are aware. Communicating through the arts is one of the most powerful means of providing insight into the experiences of others and their unique challenges. In her solo “Thousand Eyes”, Madi Gibson has used her graceful talent as a dancer and choreographer to present a message many of us would be surprised by; namely, the difficulty of being an introvert in an extrovert’s world. As a professional who has performed at major events attended by millions such as the New York City Pride Parade, Pride Toronto, and others, it seems unintuitive that Madi’s true nature is that of an introvert. Her creation of the solo dance piece “Thousand Eyes” has the dual purpose of expressing her struggles (through dance) as well as encouraging others who might see their own trials reflected in it. Performed at Dance Parade’s 2023 Press Conference held in New York City Hall and Bridge For Dance’s Uptown Rising Festival, “Thousand Eyes” was heralded by enthusiastic crowds as the perfect union of magnificent dance and personal/social statement.
Poet/activist/artist Robin Morgan was quoted as saying, “All art is the tension, expressed between the uncontainable and its one perfect inevitable form.” No other quote is so perfectly applicable to the creation and realization of “Thousand Eyes.” Ms. Gibson divulges, “As early as my teenage years I noticed that dancers with a more extroverted demeanour often received preferential treatment over dancers who were more quiet and introverted. Teachers in dance studios seemed to respond positively to students who were talkative, energetic, and inquisitive. I noticed this in professional settings as well after I finished my Dance Diploma. In college, myself and my peers were advised that networking was crucial to success in the industry. We were encouraged to introduce ourselves to people we looked up to and were interested in working with. This information scared me, the thought of having to boldly introduce myself to established professionals in the industry was not a pleasant one. I would of course make attempts at this and they usually felt awkward and forced, especially when I was younger. It comes more naturally to some people and I observed that people with extroverted personalities seemed to be doing well in their dance careers. This really bothered me, I worried that I would never be as successful as those people simply because I’m an introvert. I have had to challenge myself to behave in a more outgoing manner for the sake of my career success. Thankfully that challenge has paid off and I feel I’m much better at networking and connecting with people than I was as a teen. That’s what this piece is about: being scared to step outside your comfort zone but forcing yourself to do it anyway because it will benefit you.”
While the idea of a large audience watching Madi perform by herself about such a personal subject is dichotomous, the excited response of attendees at these performances is easily understandable. An astounding display of authenticity with fluidity of movement was witnessed by the crowds at the aforementioned events, eliciting a roaring response. Known for being highly proficient in numerous styles of dance, Ms. Gibson presents an originality in “Thousand Eyes” which can only be described as an artist of the highest level in the artform. The creation of something so extraordinary as “Thousand Eyes” is not a comfortable situation as Madi communicates, “This was more challenging than other projects I had done because it was more intimidating. I was the only one on the stage, dancing my own choreography. It was very vulnerable but I felt that it was something I needed to do, I knew it would be good for me.” She adds, “Although intimidating, this gave me a great sense of pride and I grew a lot as an artist by challenging myself in this way. This was the first piece I’d choreographed since the pandemic and I’m now eager to create more works. In the future, I hope to create for a small group of dancers and remove myself from the performance, just being the choreographer and director so I can observe more effectively.” Others works created by Madi include two pieces for George Brown Dance’s In Haus winter shows and a modern piece for fourteen dancers titled Multiverse. You can discover more about Madi Gibson’s astonishing career and life story in a four-page spread which features her in iDance Magazine.