Dayoung Jung’s “It’s Deep, It’s Dark”
DaYoung Jung joins Pointeworks as a choreographer this season with her brand new work “It’s Deep, It’s Dark” premiering in New York City at Pointeworks’ NYC Tour at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater.
DaYoung in rehearsal with dancers creating her new work. Photo courtesy of Joe Velazquez
Who is DaYoung Jung?
DaYoung’s unique background is the backbone of her artistic and choreographic creations. Originally from South Korea, she then studied and trained in Russia with the Bolshoi Ballet Academy making her a technical master of the craft. Her ballet career brought her to the States where she danced for Oklahoma City Ballet and rose up through the ranks, becoming a principal dancer in 2017. She had a flourishing career with lead roles in classical ballets and contemporary works by renowned choreographers. “I have a diverse experience and view and that is how I have shaped who I am as an artist and as a choreographer,” she stated in an interview. She described how all of her experiences have translated into “my voice, my work and my vision.” She retired from dancing in 2022 and is now Rehearsal Director at Oklahoma City Ballet along with pursuing choreography.
Her choreographic journey began when she took a chance at Oklahoma City Ballet’s choreographic workshop that allows dancers the opportunity to experiment in the creative space. DaYoung was surprised at how it moved her. She described the feeling of choreographing as similar to her love of dancing. “I felt passion and not knowing what to come but I loved the process, I loved seeing my vision come alive. It was inspiring.”
Becoming a sought after choreographer is a challenging journey, often taking many years to achieve. However, DaYoung’s work quickly garnered praise and admiration very soon after she stepped into this role. Her experience grew through her time with the National Choreographers Initiative and the Milwaukee Ballet’s International Choreographic Competition, where she was one of the top three finalists and earned the Audience Favorite award. These accomplishments gave her greater confidence as a choreographer. “It let me enjoy more. Whereas before, I wanted to make a good piece, now I don’t feel as much pressure. My focus is being true to my vision.”
DaYoung’s inspiration for her piece:
Jung found her inspiration for her piece in multiple layers. “It all started with the music,” she said explaining how the third movement of the score was the spark to the foundational vision. She used the words mysterious and dark to describe the piece adding that “dark doesn’t mean bad”. She wants to see it as a “journey to see without light, move without certainty, to trust what is hidden is not empty but full.”
The execution of this vision is created by six dancers, 4 female and 2 male. Throughout the piece the dancers move from group sequences to solos to partnering. The piece is contantly moving, relfecting the heightened senses you get when you are try to see where you are in the dark. Each dancer seems to be searching for something within the piece as if each one is discovering their path differently with their own unique senses.
“The meaning is found in not what is rightly seen but in what is felt, sensed, and intuitive,” DaYoung explained. She wants her piece to touch her audience deeply and make a lasting impact beyond visual entertainment saying, “I want the story in their eyes to be not one of fear but of discovery.”
Photos courtesy of Joe Valezquez
Elements of the work:
DaYoung’s piece exemplifies collaboration across multiple artistic mediums. She worked with world renowned costume designer Susan Roemer of S-Curve Designs to develop a costume concept inspired by the third movement of the score which invokes mystery and fluidity. The costumes for the women are dark blue bike-tards with light blue accents utilizing asymmetrical cuts that elongate the dancers’ lines. The score is a complex array of multiple pieces sewn together combining and celebrating different musicians, crafting a score that keeps energizing the dancers and audience making you want it to never stop. For her lighting she hopes to utilize special cues to translate her vision of seeing without light. For example having the entire stage dark except for one dancer, showcasing their discovery of their own light.
DaYoung vision is beautiful because every element of her inspiration has been intertwined into the movement and piece as a whole. Every arm gesture and every dancers’ eye moves with determined precision and intention.
The work utilizes six dancers: Hannah Wood, Paige Nyman, Rayleigh Vendt, Sophie Williams, David Sloan, and Kyle Torres-Hiyoshi. Within her piece, each dancer gets equal importance allowing each dancers movement to have the same value as another- leaving no dancer stuck in the back unheard.
DaYoung’s creative process:
In her interview, DaYoung expressed that her piece is about more than just the final performance. “For me, creating a piece and presenting it in a show isn’t just about the dancing—it’s a whole experience. Everything plays a role: the lighting, the music, the dancers, the time we have together, and even the travel process.”
Being invited to work with Pointeworks was a meaningful milestone for DaYoung. Her dance career introduced her to Pointeworks Artistic Director Sophie Williams long before the company was founded. Reflecting on the full-circle moment of transitioning from dancing alongside Sophie to now choreographing for her company, DaYoung described it as “very touching.”
A top priority for DaYoung in her creative process is fostering a supportive and open environment. With only two weeks to connect with the dancers and establish trust, she saw the challenge as “an exciting opportunity for us to discover our unique language together as a cohesive group.”
“These two weeks with the Pointeworks dancers have been amazing. This is truly a collaboration—it’s not just my work; it’s the work of all of us. And I’m so excited to share it with the world—we all are.”
Get Involved:
“It’s Deep, It’s Dark” premieres at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater on March 21st and 22nd. Experience DaYoung’s distinctive artistic vision brought to life through the dancers’ expressive storytelling and dynamic movement. Witness the perfect blend of athleticism, technical mastery, and emotional depth as the performers take the stage with power and grace. Don’t miss this unforgettable live experience—secure your tickets now and feel the lasting impact of dance.
DaYoung Jung in rehearsal with Pointeworks’ dancers, photo courtesy of Joe Valezquez
