"An American Prayer" is a contemporary dance piece inspired by Jim Morrison's 1978 song of the same name. Released during a resurgence of political conservatism following the counterculture era, the song reflects the speaker's nostalgia for a more progressive past and a growing disillusionment with dominant power structures. The dance explores themes of sensuality and the tension between function and pleasure, particularly as a means of controlling marginalized bodies. It positions the body as a site of both oppression and liberation, drawing parallels between past and present.

This piece was created and shown at Bates Dance Festival in Lewiston, Maine.

Dancers: Meagan Bertelsten, Mia Pensa, Sami Mangione, Lilia Wolf, Holand Dennis, Skylar Ankrom

Photos: Jana Gaskin