Cristina Benn

I began dancing at the age of four in local communities in Ypsilanti. In middle school, I began learning about choreography and developing dances for my own entertainment and for local productions. I came to the University of Michigan my first year as a dance major. Now as a fourth-year, I am also a music major, developing skills in vocal technique and music production, in addition to working as a dancer and choreographer. When I thought about “Respiration,” the first thing that came to mind was breathing life into something. In the song “A Palé,” the singer talks a lot about the person that she has become and the life that she has created for herself. She breathes life into herself to envision and create the life that she wants. This is what drove me to the song and the choreography I made, and it has been rewarding to be able to put so much work and effort into watching it grow into something bold and powerful. I hope to always be growing, learning and creating in the future. I see everything as a learning experience, and this always inspires me to challenge myself to create great art.