SOUNDS OF OUD Production Stills

One of the things I'm currently wrestling with is having one foot in both the performing and choreography worlds. Both demand a fair amount of attention and for most of the spring I've been planning my audition schedule around choreography commitments. Not going out for certain projects because they conflict with a summer gig. It's been hard balancing the two. That's why "Sounds of Oud" was such a fun film to work on. It was a dramatic short where I was hired as an actor but because of the nature of the story I did a fair amount of choreography work as well. My talents in one world contributed to my work in another. Love that synergy!

The shoot had two dance sequences, both fairly freeform but crucial for creating the mood in the scene. One was a romantic partnering of the lovers in the moonlight. The other was a seductive middle-eastern belly dance. I did youtube research and was living at the gym to prepare for the shoot. Here are some production stills so you can see the results yourself!

SOUNDS OF OUD

with Sidney Erik Wright and Al Nazemian

Directed by Ibi Ibrahim

NOOR Productions

Choreographer's Canvas 2011

Debuting ANOTHER piece. I gotta say, I feel like I'm really starting to get some nice momentum. This showcase features 15 great choreographers and it's new and different to consider them my 'co-creators' instead of 'people I want to hire me.' Rebecca Thomas, a choreographer I just danced for with R.Evolution Latina, is also presenting. In the space of a month I went from performing FOR her to presenting a piece ALONGSIDE OF her. That's kind of a cool transition!

I'm really excited about the number I'm presenting for a number of reasons. It will be the LONGEST number I've choreographed so far. It has the most complex story of anything I've worked on. There's some really fun costuming moments. Very athletic. Very intense. Strong acting intentions and character. It's a story/theme that I think is worth exploring. I think it's pushing boundaries and will get a reaction. And I feel that there are really well-defined choreographic moments and a structure to the number. After working on something abstract, it's nice to return to clarity. I'll try to get footage, but it might be a bit tricky with this one. Hope to have video up...eventually.

Band of Gypsies 2-The Race

Here's the ROUGH edit of my number. What I was able to capture with just my dinky camera during tech and the one show. Hopefully I'll be able to fill in the holes and get better footage with actual videographer footage down the line, but I love the piece so much I didn't want to wait. So sharing the unpolished version with the world...

Band of Gypsies 2!

Well, it's time. Debuting a new piece tonight. This was a MAJOR challenge and pushed me as an artist in the best of ways. I've never choreographed a piece for dancers with a cast this size before (7!). I've never collaborated with a composer and worked with original music before. I've never had to deal with the logistics of scheduling and getting space for a dance of this size. And the counting and rhythms of this number...well, when I post it eventually you'll understand.

Thanks to Katrina Phillip for spearheading this showcase. Thanks to AJ Hughes, Adam Lendermon, Stanley Martin, Alfie Parker Jr., Zachary Denison, Jose Luaces, and Mark Donaldson for giving me their time, bodies, and sweat. Thanks to Kevin Boursiquot for allowing me to create with his intricate and evocative music. We've worked together, created something beautiful, and tonight we release it into the world. I'm so proud of the product and can't wait to share it!

Band of Gypsies 2

www.bandofgypsies.net

Manhattan Movement Arts Center

May 4

7:30