The Lady in the Street-Choreographer's Canvas 2011

Official video debut! I LOVED working on this piece. So many artistic challenges. The is the longest number I've choreographed to date. It's the most complex plot I've developed. A number of costuming elements. And we threw this baby on its feet in three rehearsals. Band of Gypsies consumed my calendar and took a priority so I had to focus on developing that piece. When "The Race" premiered, I had one week to get in the studio and make "The Lady in the Street" happen. And I got my people together. And we made it happen. And it was glorious.

I've gotten some great feedback on this piece. I feel like it made an incredibly strong impression in the context of the show and opened some really fantastic doors for me professionally. But more importantly, it feels like a success artistically. This is the kind of work I want to do. Looking at it with some perspective now, there are some tweaks I would make. But the core of the number feels solid and I'm so incredibly proud of the work and of the dancers that brought it to life. So grateful.

Choreographer's Canvas 2011 Production Photos

Still waiting on that footage but until it arrives I can tease out the piece with these production photos that the amazing photographer Ilan Harel was able to grab at the concert. I'm amazed that at ONE performance only we were able to capture these shots. It's a tribute to the photographer, to my dancers who KILLED it, and I guess to my choreography which had some really strong lines and moments that read. Very clean. So grateful to everyone who helped this piece come to life and to the Group Theater, Too which produced the evening. It was a memorable night.

http://ilanharelphotography.smugmug.com/

The Expressionists highlight reel

So this is an oldie that I never got around to posting. In one of those random project-generating modes I handed my card out to someone at a Starbucks when I overheard him talking about directing a show. He in turn gave my info to one of his students that was working on a short film. She contacted me and brought me on board. I love when work just falls into place like that!

The movie was a silent film where a modern man wakes up in a world where everyone communicates entirely through vaudevilleian-style movement. He has to learn the rules of this environment by interacting with the other inhabitants. Eventually he discovers how to inhabit the space. The director had an amazing cast of actors from the Signature Theater Company's production of "Orphan's Home Cycle" and I put them through their paces with some pretty involved choreography for non-dancers. We rehearsed and shot it and the director entered it in her school's film festival where it earned her the Best Director award and nominations in the Best Picture and Best Editing categories. Really fun experience staging for the camera and I had a blast and learned a ton! Below is a highlight reel of my contributions to the movie. Just a rough sketch of the plot and some fun choreography moments. Enjoy!