Time to Uplift Your Mood – An Artistic Journey of Character, Joy, and Expression
Time to Uplift Your Mood
This artistic experiment has been such a rewarding journey. While there were definitely some ups and downs along the way, I’m grateful for the entire process. From pulling inspiration from childhood memories, experimenting with character voices, playing with movement, exploring costuming, and integrating feedback from my peers, I poured myself into this.
If you’ve been following my previous blog posts, you’ll know this project started with a simple idea: to create a fun, uplifting dance experience using multiple characters that each had their own energy, voice, and flavor. I wanted to make people smile, laugh, move, and maybe even think a little deeper about joy and how we express it.
The Evolution
Initially, I struggled with how to present the idea. I was worried about how to engage an audience quickly, after all, attention spans are short these days. I considered starting with a question like, “How happy are you on a scale from 1 to 10?” but it didn’t feel quite right. Eventually, I landed on something simple and direct: “Hey! Stop scrolling. I got some simple moves that are gonna uplift your mood.”
That line unlocked everything. From there, I leaned into a vibrant, high-energy character inspired by Jim Carrey’s performance in The Mask, animated, exaggerated (but still in a certain, natural) and joyful. I wore a yellow suit and hat reminiscent of that film as an homage. His contagious energy reminded me of how much I loved cartoons and expressive characters as a kid, and I wanted to bring some of that same magic into my piece.
Alongside this “Happy Virus” character, I introduced two others: the “Nerd” and the “Cool Guy.” Each one had a distinct look, voice, and style, and each one contributed to the playful world I was building. Developing these characters through costume pieces, posture, facial expression, and movement became one of the most enjoyable parts of the process. (Scroll down to see some fun screenshots of them in action!)
I chose “Rapper’s Delight” (instrumental) by Sugarhill Gang as my music, which thankfully wasn’t flagged on YouTube. It gave me a retro, groovy feel that supported the humor and energy I wanted the piece to have. It also connected to memories of my dad playing that song when I was growing up, adding a layer of nostalgia and meaning to the project.
I was concerned about how to pace the piece, how to go from silly to sincere, playful to polished. Should it feel like a class? A performance? Something in between? Eventually, I landed on a format where I’d start by leading some simple moves, then let the characters join in, and express themselves in their unique way.
Reflection and Peer Feedback
During the meeting with my peers, I showed them a draft of the video, and their feedback truly energized me. They were excited by the energy and engagement of the piece, two elements I was unsure about. Their encouragement empowered me to trust my instincts, lean into the joy, and keep developing this project from a place that feels true to me.
Watch the Final Video
Check out the final piece titled “Time to Uplift Your Mood” here:
This video is a celebration of joy, imagination, and movement. It’s me being my full, silly, expressive self, and inviting you to join in, even if just for a minute. I hope it uplifts your mood the same way creating it uplifted mine.
Thank you to everyone who followed along this journey, offered feedback, or simply watched me play. I’m proud of what I created, and even more excited about where these characters and ideas might go next.
Until next time, Derell
Comments