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BANDITO: Tales From Trench

An exploration of dance to escape the depths of mental health issues.

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The Idea of Trench came from Twenty One Pilot's latest album and explores a barren internal landscape of mental health issues and hitting rock bottom.

"One of the songs that stood out to me was ‘Bandito’ and the haunting echos of Sahlo Folina that encompass the song. It’s what we cry out when in Trench and was written across my mirror for a lot of this past year as I began the long journey to get where I needed to be. “Sahlo” means to enable in Somali. Folina is a name, meaning ' to be one of creativity with a distaste for conformity and a strict routine'- such as what we are told we need to be in order to be happy and what our minds may tell us is true.
 

The key out of trench is creativity, and in this case Dance. The main thing to take away here is: if you enjoy something then do it. It doesn’t matter if you’re bad at it or not as good as someone else. If it works for you and brings you joy, hold onto it so tight and don’t let anyone take it away from you. As long as it isn’t harming anyone else, chase it like theres no tomorrow.
 

I know this video isn’t perfect and the dance isn’t the most beautiful, but it's here. It has been created and it has brought joy and purpose where there was struggling. The project as a whole has helped me through some tough times and moments of huge transition. I could pour my creative energy into something positive rather than being left with my thoughts and allowing it to form a spiral I’m beginning to understand...ish. Mental health is different for everyone with no quick fix or definite way out. If this works for you then that's amazing! If not, then keep going, there is something out there for you. Get help and stay alive. It's worth it 💛".

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