Freedom at Day Zero, a choreopoem invites audiences into an emotional landscape where memory moves, voice transforms, and healing takes form.
Freedom at Day Zero is an in-progress choreopoem by interdisciplinary artist Olive Toran, adapted from her book of the same name. Blending poetry, movement, and live piano composition, the performance traces a journey of healing through memory, voice, and embodied storytelling. Danced and spoken by Toran, the work travels backward in time—from woman to child—revealing an intimate dialogue with her younger selves across continents and years.
Through choreography by Dawn Hillen and Olive Toran and original music by Canaan Harris, the performance unfolds in acts that explore silence, loss, love, and forgiveness. Each gesture and verse becomes a step toward wholeness—a reclamation of self through the language of the body.
First showing took place at the Ailey Studios on October 26, 2025.
Director: Dawn Hillen
Choreography: Dawn Hillen and Olive Toran
Music: Canaan Harris
Poetry: Olive Toran
Lighting Design: The Ailey Studios
Genre: Choreopoem | Experimental
Cast: 2 performers
Faith age three Olive Toran
Faith age eight Olive Toran
Prologue Olive Adult
Act1: Alone Faith age three
Act 2: This Song Faith age eight
Click here for full program
Working with Dawn and Canaan, has felt so supportive, caring and inspiring. This work has been a cathartic and emotional journey. Dawn’s approach to this choreography has motivated me to stay disciplined in my practice, gentle to my soul, and loving to my younger self. Canaan’s music helped provide so much peace as I allowed my body to express the unimaginable. To dance with my younger self, was the most joyous moment. May we continue to dance, to love and to heal. - Olive Toran
Working with Olive Toran has been a beautiful and inspiring experience. Together, we’ve explored how to give breath and movement to her words — to bring her story to life in a way that feels real and true. Canaan’s music has added another layer of magic — his sensitivity and creativity at the piano capture exactly what we’re feeling and trying to say. Every rehearsal has been full of discovery, laughter, focus, and emotion. This has truly been a collaborative journey, and I’m so grateful to walk beside these two incredible artists as Olive shared the first part of her story with all of you tonight. - Dawn Hillen
The process of making this piece was very revelatory, organic, and contained all the elements I enjoy most in collaboration. The music of this piece attempts to embody the raw emotion of the text and to reflect the many ways trauma can be embodied sonically. - Canaan Harris
Meet the Team
Olive Toran
Author ·Artist ·Musician · Dancer · Environmentalist
Olive Toran is an interdisciplinary artist, composer, and writer whose work bridges movement, music, and language to explore healing, memory, and transformation. Her creative practice spans poetry, storytelling, photography, and sound composition, unified by an interest in how the body becomes both archive and instrument for emotional expression.
Her performance Freedom at Day Zero, adapted from her book of the same name, traces a personal journey of renewal through voice, rhythm, and gesture—an exploration of how the body remembers, releases, and reclaims. Olive’s exhibitions include Inner and Outer Transformations: The Climate Crisis and The Response: Echoes Beneath the Rain, and her writing appears in Culture Push Issue 21: Community and Climate Adaptation.
She currently serves as Atlas of Disaster Outreach Coordinator at Rebuild by Design and sits on the board of the Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards (SAWS). A certified herbalist fluent in French, Olive continues to create across mediums that honor connection, memory, and the language of the body.
Dawn Hillen
Performer · Actor · Dancer · Master Ballet Teacher · Choreographer · Stage Director
Dawn Hillen has been a celebrated figure in New York City’s performing arts community for over 35 years. A performer, actor, and dancer, she has been on the permanent faculties of some of the city’s most renowned studios—including Alvin Ailey Extension, Ballet Arts, Broadway Dance Center, and Steps on Broadway.
Her expert, gentle, and uplifting approach to ballet training—blending artistry, imagery, and technical insight—has inspired dancers of all ages and levels. Dawn has taught master classes and performed with dance companies across the United States, including at Lincoln Center, and in Europe, as well as appearing in theatrical productions and independent films.
An independent choreographer and former stage manager in New York’s Off-Broadway theatres, she continues to teach and create new ballets for the young artists at the Alvin Ailey Professional Performing Arts School, while also developing new theatrical projects. Through her work, she seeks to inspire, illuminate, and celebrate the artistry of being human.
Canaan Harris
Composer ·Pianist ·Music Director
Canaan J. Harris is a NYC-based composer, pianist, and music director who plays ballet classes at Alvin Ailey; music directs cabarets at 54 Below, The Green Room 42, Chelsea Table & Stage, among other venues; and is currently in the composer track in the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop. Original musicals which he has served as composer include Boys, Boys, Behave!, Plane Girl, & Elaine?!. His work has been featured at Theater Aspen, Tri-Cities Opera, 54 Below, The Green Room 42, Laurie Beechman Theatre, NY Theatre Barn, among others. Canaan was also a co-founder of the Pocket Opera Project (Tri-Cities Opera, Binghamton, NY). @canaan_jeffrey98