Matchmaker, Matchmaker...I'm Willing to Settle

   I love new work.  I also love projects where I get to do double-duty.  For this one, I got to be choreographer guy but also got to assistant direct and dip my toes in those waters some more.  I like those waters.  This gig fell into place because of some genius actors that I'd worked with in a showcase.  NIKKI MACCALLUM and KELVIN MOON LOH cowrote a show based on Nikki's experiences with online dating.  An autobiographical musical about Manhattan romantic disasters.  Nikki played the lead and Kelvin directed.  I was brought on board to spice up the concert with a few choreographed moments.  There was a margarita shaker salsa dance, a nasty 'swingers' swing number, and a personal highlight, the opening number and its 'boobie-time' choreography. 

     The show was presented at ARS NOVA and it was my first time working in that amazing intimate space where I'd seen so much great work by so many inspiring emerging artists.  Thrilled to join their ranks.  And to work on a brand-spankin' new musical.  And to discover that even though I can be uber-serious guy, I can actually make funny choreography that people laugh at.  Who knew?  The show sold out, the performance kicked butt, the authors continue to develop the piece, and I got some artistic growth.  So much win! 

Looping vs. Looping

The NEW YORK JAZZ CHOREOGRAPHY PROJECT gave me the chance to reinvestigate "Looping".  In a majority of the dances I present, I'm rehearsing under the gun.  Paying for studios, getting friends to dance for me for low/no pay, doing my best to work calmly and cleanly.  I don't like taking advantage of people's time (which they're mostly donating), so I generally put things up quick and dirty and let the cards fall where they may.  This was the first piece I got to step away from for a bit and rediscover.  Distance is crucial.  I could see what was working, what wasn't, and revisit.  The one thing I couldn't control was cinematography.  I'm not overly pleased with the video.  Focus issues, missed moments, lack of closeup.  But it was out of my hands.  The CHOREOGRAPHY part of things feels like a success.  Clarification of moments.  More intricacy.  Better set-up at the beginning.  A sculpted lighting design.  Cleaner.  Here for the first time I an present a side-by-side comparison of the evolution of a piece.  Very proud of this dance.

First, the original...


Now, the new and improved...

Looping 2.0

Looping was a beautiful dance. I loved it and was thrilled with the way it turned out. But it wasn't quite fully developed. We had an abridged rehearsal process, not nearly enough tech time, and at the single performance there was a technical mishap and the stage went to blackout briefly. All in all, not ideal. So I wanted to revisit, make some tweaks, and show it again. That opportunity came up with the NY JAZZ CHOREOGRAPHY PROJECT.

I'd known one of the artistic directors, Merete Meunter, through events at the SDC and she invited me to apply.  I sent off the video of the original and it was immediately accepted into the fall showing.  Unfortunately, many of my dancers were unavailable.  Booking little things like national tours and, oh, BROADWAY.  I got to explore the movement with a new crew who brought their own flair to it.  And they were gorgeous.  Here are some pictures from the dress rehearsal we had courtesy of Travis Kelley Photography (he who got such brilliant pictures of the original).  Obsessed with his composition and some moments he captured.  Looping 2.0 will always hold a special place in my heart as the first piece I ever remounted.  I'm starting to develop repertoire!  Awesome development in my dance path!

"Looping" dress rehearsal

     In Atlanta, I had an incredible experience sitting back and observing another person's process, but as soon as I got back to NY I needed to be my own artist again.  Stop watching, start doing.  So I began creating a new dance.  "Looping" was originally presented as a part of the 2012 Choreographer's Canvas at MMAC.  While I was rehearsing it, I realized that I wanted to extend my network of collaborators and meet new artists.  I opened my dress rehearsal to photographers who were potentially interested in dance photography.  I had a room full of incredibly talented dancers and had them choreographed to make some incredibly beautiful pictures.  So why not invite more people into that world, just to play and see what develops?  The photographers would have a chance to explore dance photography, the dancers would get some shots they may be able to use for self-promotion, and I'd get to meet some new talent.  Winning all around.  Travis Kelley ended up taking me up on that offer, and as a result I can't praise www.traviskelleyphotography.com enough.  He does stunning work and I'm so lucky that he came to document our rehearsal.  Here's some moments that he captured at our working dress rehearsal.

Band of Gypsies 2-The Race: Production Photos

The uber-talented Nicholas Ziegler captured some fantastic moments during the tech rehearsal. I love when the physical pictures I create inspire some breathtaking images from a fellow artist. Movement captured into a preserved moment. Another person's creative perspective illuminating thoughts in my own. It's cool. Collaboration is fun!

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/

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

Picking up steam

So I haven't posted in a bit, and mainly that's a result of laziness on my part. But in the midst of that laziness is a professional whirlwind of opportunity and fun upcoming projects. It finally feels like I'm starting to hit my stride as a performer/choreographer and I'm loving how those two worlds intersect and feed off each other. A few developments...

I danced in the R.Evolucion Latina Choreographer's Festival. Performed in 5 numbers from some amazing up and coming choreographers and got to check out the layout and tech capacity of Manhattan Movement Arts Center. A good thing to because...

I've been accepted into two choreography showcases for May. I will be debuting new pieces for both the Band of Gypsies 2 showcase (where I've been paired with a composer to create an original number based on original music) and The Choreographer's Canvas. Yay for forced getting into the studio and rounding up dancers and making some fantastic art!

I was also asked to assist on Broadway Bares 21. Had some pre-pro meetings already and this year's show is going to be especially beautiful. I'm really looking forward to getting down and dirty on this project.

In a HUGE choreographic leap, I took the first steps in developing my own work. I had inspiration for a show strike me and after mulling it over for a bit, I submitted a proposal to the author of the work I want to base it on. My first time applying for rights. I truly believe in the concept (which is strikingly original) and if I can acquire the right to adapt it from a 'new media' source, it'd be absolutely amazing. Fingers crossed.

Finally, I've been offered the chance to direct/choreograph a summerstock show. No details on this until contracts are signed, but it's crazy exhilarating to be the head honcho on a project. Also terrifying. That show's all on me. But I think I'm taking the plunge. The project is super-cool and I can't wait to talk about it in the near future.

I just wanted to update this blog because it's been a while and there's a lot going on. Refining my class/warmup, acting in theater, shooting short films/webseries. A little editing. Hopefully more fun video to post in the near future. But mainly there's movement on the professional front and it's exciting to report. New art coming your way soon! Can't wait to get in the studio again...

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...

Debuting a new piece!

You can catch my choreography live! On August 30 and 31st I'll be presenting a beautiful number at the choreographic showcase Band of Gypsies. Katrina Phillip is putting together an evening of dances by choreographers who are also performers on the elite musical theater circuit. I'm currently in rehearsals for my number "Sunday Interlude, NYC" with the lovely Tiffany Ocvirk and Chip Abbott and I can't even begin to describe how thrilled I am with the way things are shaping up. Come see it in person at St. Luke's on 46th between 8th and 9th ave. August 30-1 at 8. More information at http://www.bandofgypsies.net and on facebook here.