CHOREOGRAPHY REEL
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VIDEOS OF CHOREOGRAPHIC WORKS
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list of CHOREOGRAPHic works
(2019) At the Seams [Bowen McCauley Dance Company (professional contemporary dance company)]. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.
I choreographed this new duet for Sona Kharatian, veteran dancer of The Washington Ballet and myself and we performed the work as guest artists with Bowen McCauley Dance Company's Kennedy Center season to the live music of Daniel Smith and Logan Castro. "At the Seams" explores the reconciliation of the fractured parts of oneself caused by past traumas—a celebration of scars that emerge when mending back to wholeness, a process poignantly represented in the Japanese art form, Kintsugi. Kintsugi utilizes golden lacquer to join together broken pieces of pottery. The seams are emphasized, displaying an imperfect, broken history that commemorates unity.
(2019) Tigida Pipa [Days of Dance Concert]. Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre.
The composition "Tigida Pipa" by esteemed composer Stephen Montague serves as the inspiration for this ensemble choreographic work for 10 dancers.
(2018) Facile Manipulations [Bowen McCauley Dance (professional contemporary dance company)]. The Kennedy Center, Millennium Stage & Dance Place: Washington, D.C.
I reworked the choreography from my dance All at Once for 3 women and 2 men instead of 7 women, deepening the phrase work and adding partnering to closely align with this group of professional dancers.
(2017) All at Once [Days of Dance Concert]. Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre, FSU: Tallahassee, FL.
The music for this dance, composed by Steve Reich and performed live by FSU School of Music Professor, Greg Sauer is written for 8 cellos, but is most often performed by one live cellist, with 7 recorded cello tracks. The 7 dancers in this work embody the 7 recorded cellos, demonstrating how various voices can be working simultaneously to create a larger complex sound while still maintaining their individual statements. To emphasize the connection to the music, I arranged the dancers in the space as if they are notes on a music staff.
(2017) Atropos [Florida State University]. Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre, FSU: Tallahassee, FL.
This solo, performed by graduate student Anna Patsfall for her MFA Thesis Concert, is inspired by the evil fairy, Carabosse, in Sleeping Beauty who seeks revenge for not being invited to Princess Aurora's christening. As she checks for her name on the long list of invited guests, she becomes strangled by her spite, struggling to free herself of the oppressive shell of resentment she carries with her.
(2017) Give and Take [Doug Varone's Devices 4]. Gibney Dance: Agnes Varis Performing Arts Center: New York City, NY.
This duet was performed at a showcase for selected choreographers working under the mentorship of Doug Varone. The duet derives inspiration from the role of chance in the creative process and the way that movement generated spontaneously can be shaped to create meaning. This parallels the way that serendipity often impacts the development of life’s relationships, but conscious choices and manipulations come into play as they evolve.
(2017, 2016) Petit Four [Bowen McCauley Dance (professional contemporary dance company)]. Signature Theatre: Arlington, VA and Maryland Youth Ballet Studio Theater: Silver Spring, MD.
This quartet takes its lead from the music, which is comprised of movements from various Vivaldi Cello Concerti. It is a visualization of the music; much of it light, playful, and energetic, with other parts contemplative and subdued. The choreography employs the dancers’ strengths, incorporating both classical ballet and modern techniques, while placing their radiant personalities on display.
(2017) Bossa [Evening of Dance, Perry Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp]. Main Theatre: Steamboat Springs, CO.
Performed with live music by the C Street Brass Band in collaboration with Strings Music Festival.
(2017) The Council [Evening of Dance, Perry Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp]. Main Theatre: Steamboat Springs, CO.
Performed with live music by the C Street Brass Band in collaboration with Strings Music Festival.
(2016) Out of Sight [Boston Contemporary Dance Festival]. Boston University Dance Theater: Boston, MA.
Out of Sight is influenced by the music, which is inspired by James Brown and written by a jazz musician for a string quartet. This amalgamation of varying musical genres is reflected in the movement vocabulary, which has elements of classical ballet, contemporary, and vernacular dance. Following an abstracted narrative, the piece investigates the role of back-up singers and the desire for the spotlight.
(2016) Take a Seat [Field Studies 2016]. Gibney Dance: Agnes Varis Performing Arts Center: New York City, NY.
This work, which was also presented at Chez Bushwick in Brooklyn, NY, was created for Field Studies, a creative development lab for artist/scholars from across the U.S. In addition to choreographing this solo, I also was the solo performer.
(2015) Gaining Ground [ARC Dance (professional contemporary ballet company)]. Leo K. Theatre, Seattle Center: Seattle, WA.
Gaining Ground investigates the challenges women still face in a "so-called" post-feminist society. This work received a glowing review in The Seattle Times.
(2015) Interchange [Tallahassee Ballet]. Evening of Music and Dance, Opperman Music Hall: Tallahassee, FL.
This solo, performed to live cello played by FSU music professor Greg Sauer and composed by Ligeti, received a stellar review in The Tallahassee Democrat. The dance is a conversation between the dancer and the musician, with the music serving as the driving force and the dancer fighting to hold her place in the space.
(2014) ABCD [Days of Dance Concert]. Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre, FSU: Tallahassee, FL.
ABCD is a re-staging of a duet I choreographed for dancers at Sacramento Ballet.
(2014) Emerging [Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp]. Main Theatre: Steamboat Springs, CO.
This group dance investigates the life cycle of cicadas. Perry-Mansfield is the oldest continuously-operating performing arts school and camp in the nation.
(2014) Play [Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre]. Cabrillo Crocker Theater: Aptos, CA.
Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre is a pre-professional company whose members have gone on to dance as featured performers with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Houston Ballet, Ballet Austin, Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, San Francisco Ballet, Ballet San Jose, Ballet Arizona, Cincinnati Ballet, LA Ballet, and Sacramento Ballet.
(2014) Primal Identity [Evening of Dance Concert]. Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre, FSU: Tallahassee, FL.
This large group work is a study in contrasts, drawing inspiration from the Tao Te Ching and exploring the dualities of effort and ease; agitation and patience; resistance and acceptance; violence and peace; and the individual and community. This idea of polarity is exemplified by the choice of music: the fast, percussive, and discordant 5th movement of Bartók's String Quartet No. 4 and the slow, sustained, melancholic 1st movement of Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 8, played live by FSU School of Music faculty members.
(2014) The Path Supreme [Dumbo Dance Festival]. John Ryan Theatre: Brooklyn, NY.
The Dumbo Dance Festival is a juried festival with work by national and international artists. The featured soloist for this performance was DuBois A’Keen, dancer with Urban Bush Women. This solo was originally performed by Jee Eun Ahn for her MFA Thesis Concert at FSU. It is inspired by quotes from the Hindu text, the Upanishads.
(2013) Elusive [Sacramento Ballet]. St. Francis High School Performing Arts Center: Sacramento, CA.
Elusive was a commission by Sacramento Ballet for their Modern Masters series. This work demonstrates the ways that people can occupy the same space, but never truly connect.
(2013) Dialogues [MFA Concert]. Meany Studio Theater, University of Washington: Seattle, WA.
Dialogues was a community dance performed by University of Washington students and members of the Seattle community ages 10-70. Its original score was written and performed by Gary Palmer.
(2012) Spin [MFA Concert]. Meany Studio Theater, University of Washington: Seattle, WA.
This work, performed by University of Washington undergraduates with music by DJ Ari Goldman, illustrates the sense of community fostered through sharing space with strangers in a dance club.
(2010) C'est la V [Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre]. Regional Dance America Festival: Richland, WA.
C'est la V was chosen by the RDA adjudicator for performance at the organization's annual festival.
(2008) A Brik and Chloe Duet [Sacramento Ballet]. Mondavi Center: Davis, CA.
This work was performed as part of the Beer and Ballet series at Sacramento Ballet.
(2008) Awakening [Black Rock City Ballet]. Burning Man Festival: Black Rock Desert, NV.
Awakening was created in collaboration with dancers from Smuin Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, and Oakland Ballet.
(2008) Little Ditty [Sacramento Ballet]. Studio Theater: Sacramento, CA.
I performed and choreographed this short solo during my tenure with Sacramento Ballet.
(2008) Three Muses [Sacramento Ballet]. Studio Theater: Sacramento, CA.
This short trio was performed as part of the Beer and Ballet series at Sacramento Ballet.
(2007) In Two [Sacramento Ballet]. Studio Theater: Sacramento, CA.
In addition choreographing this duet, I was one of the performers.
(2007) Not So Soft [Sacramento Ballet]. Studio Theater: Sacramento, CA.
I performed and choreographed this short solo during my tenure with Sacramento Ballet.
(2007) Piece of Cake [Sacramento Ballet]. Benvenuti Performing Arts Center: Sacramento, CA.
This work, danced to music by the rock group Cake, was performed as part of the Beer and Ballet series at Sacramento Ballet.
(2005) Outside the Lines [New York Theatre Ballet]. Madison Avenue Baptist Church: New York City, NY.
This work, danced to Mendelssohn, was later performed by Sacramento Ballet.
(2005) Within Reach [New York Theatre Ballet]. Madison Avenue Baptist Church: New York City, NY.
This short solo was my first work performed in a professional ballet company concert.