Deforestation

Tell us a bit about you piece is there a story line?
My piece is quite simply entitled Deforestation. I have always had a love for nature and have admired environmental activists. Today’s society is plagued by political issues and is largely focused on problems that humans encounter; I wanted to bring attention to our environment and it’s destruction. Our actions impact our surroundings and we may not see the effects now but they are there nevertheless.

Which composer will you be working with and how is it all going? 
I am using the music of a Cleveland based flute and cello duo named In2ative. I had started my piece before I encountered their music. However, after hearing one of their works live in our studio I decided to use that instead.  Remounting some of the choreography with the new music was a bit challenging in terms of timing and recounting phrases, but I am so happy I got to collaborate with them. They were terrific to work with, accommodating my desire for certain tempos and extending the piece a bit.

Can you take apart a piece of the music and explain how that was countered in your choreography? 
I counted most of the choreography in 8’s, which happens in a lot of dance. It’s good to catch people off guard and have layers of movement so sometimes I try to create phrases without the music.

When did you start dancing?
I started dancing when I was 6 years old. My parents put me in a ballet class and I slowly began taking more and more lessons. Luckily I was in the right place at the right time and got to train at some amazing dance schools.

As a choreographer and as a dancer, who are your influences?  Whose work do you really like? 
I love a wide variety of choreographers and the works of multiple dance companies. A few works that have been memorable for me include pieces by Raphael Bonachela for Sydney Dance Company, the works of Richard Alston, Malandain Ballet’s Cinderella, and Netherlands Dance Theater always has intriguing works. I enjoy watching pieces where the movement is smooth and flows and that also incorporates beautiful lines. I love dances that use sweeping melodies and classical instrumentation. Rather than being influenced by those works and choreographers, I would say I am inspired by them. Every person has their own organic way of moving, so I definitely don’t try to mimic what they created.

I understand this was your first time choreographing. What lessons did you learn to make you a stronger dancer?
This was my first time choreographing for our performance Fresh Inventions series at Cleveland Public Theatre. Choreographing is out of my comfort zone, but it was a great learning experience. You only grow as an artist when you are challenged in new ways. I did become aware of a few skills to make the rehearsal process more successful as a dancer;These skills include paying more attention to detail, dynamics, and focus. Something as small as a the turn of the head or the difference between a tense or open hand can completely change what the audience perceives.