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Why Practice Matters More Than Performance
One of the things that took me years to understand is that the most important part of my work isn’t the performance. It’s the practice. When people encounter Emotions Physical Theatre for the first time, they usually see a show, a production, or a finished piece. But the truth is that the real work happens long before that moment. The performance is only the visible surface of something much deeper and much more repetitive. For me, movement has always been the first language.
Shawn Rawls
Jul 282 min read


The Male Experience in Dance
One of the questions that has stayed with me throughout my career is surprisingly simple:
What does it actually mean to be a man in dance?
Shawn Rawls
Jun 232 min read


When Art and Mental Health Entered the Work
For many years, I didn’t think of my choreography as being about mental health.
I thought I was simply making work about human experiences—relationships, identity, conflict, vulnerability. But over time, I started noticing a pattern.
Shawn Rawls
May 302 min read


The First Work: Making Process
Every company has an official starting point. For Emotions Physical Theatre, that moment came in 2013 when we created and presented our first full production. But the deeper origin of the company came from something much more personal. At the time, my wife was going through one of the most difficult periods of her life. She had already survived cancer once, and then it returned. She was facing surgeries, chemotherapy, and the uncertainty of what her body would be capable of a
Shawn Rawls
Apr 162 min read


How Emotions Physical Theatre Began
Emotions Physical Theatre didn’t begin as a brand or a business plan. It began as a need. As a teenager, I knew I wanted to choreograph. I wanted to make work. I wanted a company. But what I didn’t yet understand was why . Now, more than a decade later—thirteen seasons in—I can see that the work was never really about ambition. It was about finding stability, understanding, and a way to stay connected to myself and to other people. I’m forty-one now, living a version of the l
Shawn Rawls
Mar 202 min read


Lights, Camera, Action: Emotions Physical Theatre's Film Production Services
Lights, Camera, Action: Emotions Physical Theatre's Film Production Services Lights, camera, action! At Emotions Physical Theatre, we...
Shawn Rawls
Apr 17, 20243 min read


Unleashing Creativity: Join Emotions Physical Theatre's In-School Program
Unleashing Creativity: Join Emotions Physical Theatre's In-School Program Are you looking for a unique and engaging way to unleash your...
Shawn Rawls
Apr 17, 20242 min read


Exploring the Healing Power of Dance: Emotions Physical Theatre's Journey
Exploring the Healing Power of Dance: Emotions Physical Theatre's Journey At Emotions Physical Theatre, we believe in the transformative...
Shawn Rawls
Apr 17, 20242 min read
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