Isle Royale Reflection"I am deeply grateful for the two weeks I spent exploring and creating on Isle Royale. From my little corner of the island at the Dassler cabin, I immersed myself in the slower pace of life that the island wilderness demands. During my stay, I also spent five days backpacking across the island to Windigo. This journey brought me closer to the island’s wildlife and landscape and gave me the opportunity to meet fellow hikers who shared my enthusiasm for this unique place. Out of these experiences emerged my creation on the island. I choreographed to music composed by a previous artist-in-residence, Katherine Bergman. Her piece, titled “Over Wild Solitude,” resonated deeply with me, especially the theme of "solitude," which became a key part of my time on Isle Royale. With no cell service and the park Visitor Center two miles away from my cabin, I had ample time to explore on my own, learning and being constantly surprised by the island. One of the first nights, for example, I woke up around 3 a.m. and stepped outside to use the outhouse. Just a few steps from the door, I heard a sudden noise that startled me. I quickly shined my flashlight toward the sound and found myself face-to-face with three bunnies staring back at me!" - Sofie van Doorn, 2024
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2024 Isle Royale National Park Artist-in-Residence Sofie van Doorn performs a choreographed dance in many settings on Isle Royale, synchronized to the music of 2017 Isle Royale National Park Artist-in-Residence Katherine Bergman titled "Over Wild Solitude." 
About the ArtistSofie van Doorn is an American-Dutch contemporary dancer and choreographer, and was an Isle Royale Artist-in-Residence from August 9th to August 24th, 2024. As a choreographer, her work is deeply influenced by ecology and the environment. Through her work, Sofie aims to inspire environmental appreciation and action by using the physicality of the human form, combined with music, as the foundation for storytelling. Her choreography highlights the joy and wonder that can be found by closely observing one’s surroundings, encouraging others to engage with their environment with heightened sensitivity. Sofie holds a bachelor’s degree in Contemporary Dance from the Zurich University of the Arts, and has worked internationally with dance companies such as T42 Dance in Bern, Switzerland, and Anderson Carvalho Dance and Choreography in Cape Town, South Africa. She has also been an Artist in Residence at the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and Hot Springs National Park. You can view more of Sofie's work on the artist's personal webpage.
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Last updated: April 3, 2025