Welcome To #TheMaiyaProject!
#TheMaiyaProject is a program of Mental Fitness, based on the song by Jenn Friedman, about the recovery of a personal friend, as well as Jenn’s own recovery, choreographed by Renée Locher.
The film follows three dancers through the woods – Maiya’s representation, the eating disorder voice, and the recovery voice – with Maiya herself making select appearances throughout in a variety of mediums. The three characters make their way through the woods via an excruciatingly choreographed contemporary movement struggle. We see Maiya’s progression from captivity inside the eating disorder voice toward the alignment with the recovery voice. We watch as her autonomy gradually and courageously takes hold. As Maiya’s character evolves from containment to freedom, we are reminded of the power within ourselves to find our own personal freedom; we note a parallel between the very physical struggle on the screen and the often invisible struggle inside ourselves. While we equate the entanglement of the woods with our own confusion, chaos, and internment, we also equate the freedom and purity of nature with our own unbound potential.
You are welcome to post and screen this film, and download our free study guide and resource packet.
Free Downloads to accompany #TheMaiyaProject:
#TheMaiyaProject Resource Packet