AS A COLLECTIVE, WE SOUGHT TO CREATE A PERFORMANCE THAT BOLDLY SPEAKS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH TO LET OUR COMMUNITY KNOW THAT WE BELIEVE IT IS VERY REAL, AND THOUGH WE ALL SUFFER IN SOME WAY, THERE ARE WAYS WE CAN HEAL TOGETHER.

FEATURING 14 LOCAL ARTISTS, Resurgence is a thought-provoking, multi-genre dance performance that uses movement to bring to life coping mechanisms and thoughts patterns to help audiences navigate the challenges of mental health.

Inspired by the Netflix documentary Stutz, Resurgence sheds light on tools developed by Phil Stutz and Barry Michels that help individuals find the willpower to live their lives in forward motion. Our performance has created a variety of works that represent these tools, as well as acknowledge the dark places that mental health can put us in.

The state of Oklahoma ranks 5th in the nation for individuals that face mental illnesS.

In Oklahoma county alone, there are over 114,000 individuals 18 and over who are in need of treatment for mental health, however, 84% remain untreated due to the stigmas surrounding mental health and the lack of access to care.

Resurgence aims to spread awareness of accessible tools people can use to cope with their mental health adversities. The choreographic works have been inspired by the therapeutic tactics used by Phil Stutz in the Netflix documentary Stutz, which is about Jonah Hill and his therapist, Phil Stutz, sharing conversations and techniques that Stutz has concocted and imparted in Hill’s mental health recovery. The therapist’s goal is to:

  • help patients define their purpose for healing,

  • offer tangible steps to heal using a variety of his self-developed tools,

  • give people propulsive feelings that they are capable of making big changes in their lives.

Resurgence takes the varying concepts discussed in the documentary and creates visually haunting, yet inspiring choreographic representations of the infused tactics. Through the complexities that come with mental health, Resurgence seeks to break the stigmas of mental health, increase awareness, and more importantly, bring a community of people together to build empathy and understanding around the subject.

resurgence reviews

“Most shows that you go to, you’re just going to be entertained [but] something really unique about this [show] was that we got to feel something very unique and internal to our own experiences and really reflect on it.”

— daniel p.

“I feel like the show that I just saw doesn’t even belong in Oklahoma. It feels like something new, really cutting edge, beautiful and extremely touching.”

— lark r.

“My favorite part of the show is that you, as RACE, wanted to focus on a show about mental health. It impacted me and touched me in a really big way.”

— Bekah S.

RACE partnered with local organization Collective Care Fund (CCF) to provide additional resources during the performance weekend. Collective Care Fund’s mission is to provide financial assistance for mental health treatment to individuals with limited income. CCF is available anytime for individuals seeking assistance with mental health resources.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.COLLECTIVECAREFUND.ORG