KOH sizzle montage

Choreographed a tv pilot about male strippers. This is a montage of the more 'bump and grind' footage. I created specific movement profiles based on each actor's character. The veteran was confident and barely giving anything to be sexy whereas the underage kid was swinging from the pole and going crazy. The silver spoon dude who didn't need the money was just stripping to show off. Etc. Bits of choreo here and there but mainly character and making sure the actors looked authentic and comfortable. And sexy. Probably NSFW.

Guest class WIN!

So I'm working in Orlando and I become aware of an amazing underground dance group. From taking class in New York, I made friends with the OCU mafia (a network of dancers from a conservatory that are dedicated to training and having fun). Apparently, in school they started a 'secret dance class' which was a place to play and explore in a judgement free zone. They'd teach each other and mess around in a totally supportive environment. The faculty was not okay with the dancers seeking outside training, so they kept it on the dl. After graduation, these dancer-warriors kept the tradition alive bringing the pick-up fun classes to NYC and, apparently, Orlando.

When I first came down, I took a session taught by an amazing hip-hop dancer. The sponsor of the group invited me to teach class sometime and FINALLY we were able to work it out. I had a few notable successes with this class. First, it's the longest class I've taught so far. We started around 8:50 and wrapped up by 11:15. Full warm-up with stretching/technique, ab workout, and combo with plenty of time to refine. I love feeling like I can talk about specifics in the choreography! Second, it's the biggest class I've had the chance to teach. True, I was a guest teacher at an established group but I brought 5 people from my cast who thought I was worth learning from. 13 students! And I handled it and kept it moving! WIN! Finally, I introduced at least 3 or 4 people to their very first musical theater dance class. It's amazing taking people from a ballet or modern background and showing them how much fun/free/specific theater dance can be. Storytelling/acting through movement is truly my passion and it was a joy to be able to share that with newbies. Oh, and I got to teach a combo that's been kicking around my head and I haven't been able to set on people yet. So seeing the movement on someone else's body was a definite treat.

All in all, a great class and a great step forward in my teaching/choreography career! Hope you like the combo, I know we did!

Official video-Sunday Interlude, NYC

It's my first post in a bit. I've been busy doing the 'performer' thing instead of the 'choreographer' thing. Working on a holiday show at Walt Disney World is giving me the chance to stretch some underused dancer muscles and build up the bank account. Unfortunately, it's not giving me the chance to really work on my own combos. I've decided to use the time to overhaul my marketing materials so that come 2011 I can submit a polished package. New reel(s), new website, and new seamless edits of my work.

I finally got the videographer's footage from the Band of Gypsies showcase and have been playing around with my imovie program. It's amazing the difference an abrupt transition or a bad crop job can make in the flow of a video! Putting this version together was my own personal trial-by-fire class in film editing and I learned so much. Good thing too, because I have the feeling I'll be doing many more of these in the future. So here it is at last, the best representation of this duet I can come up with based on the footage I have at my disposal. I love this piece and, if given the chance to set it again, will do my best to get HD footage. It really makes a difference. Until then, I present...