Spirited Away - One Summer's Day Kandyce Whittingham

I strolled into Boston University’s College of Fine Arts, slipping off my tennis shoes and socks to embrace the cold tile floor of what was once a Buick dealership showroom in the 60s. Eagerly awaiting the start of Theatre Ensemble, I socialized with friends and cooled off from the brutal summer heat until class began with the ultimate beast: a three-part warm-up.

On that Friday, July 20th, 2018, I learned a life-changing lesson in reclaiming my childlike wonder.

The famous three-part consists of a diverse and ever-changing trio of songs, played consecutively to encourage a variety of physical and mental preparations for class. The process begins with a light jog that slowly evolves into a run and then to a frenzied sprint around the space providing focus, energy, and a lot of sweat. As soon as the next song starts, the room collectively freezes, moving as slowly as humanly possible to catch our breaths and challenge each muscle of our anatomies. Finally, the entire room “plays” together, letting the music and our bodies guide us as we interact across the room.

I learned from the beginning of the course that the term “play” meant whatever we wanted it to. Oftentimes, it felt like watching kids on a playground letting loose and...