ask kitty
Vol 16
Sooooo many wonderful questions via Insta…here are answers to a few. MORE SOON. So grateful for community right now! Thank you for engaging with me.
xxxxx
Kitty
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Kourtnie, Los Angeles
“When do you feel most vulnerable?”
Sitting with an audience watching my own work unfold live onstage.
Sara, Los Angeles
“Any rituals before a performance?”
I’m actually quite superstitious so I have a few strange rituals! If something goes well I will wear the same shoes to the following performances. So weird! I walk on exactly the same path in and out of the venue. I always try to do a little huddle with the dancers - hands in the middle - with my hand on top.
“How do you keep inspired during all these fits and starts”
Staying inspired during all of these fits and starts has been interesting. I’ve made a conscious decision to ride the fits and starts instead of trying to buck them. If I have an opportunity to create I savor it and challenge myself to work differently. I’m exploring what happens if I allow myself to create more quickly and with less self-criticism. I’m trying to get out of my own way - or shall I say - out of creativity’s way. MOST importantly - the dancers - their resilience and generosity of spirit has truly kept me inspired and hopeful.
Andre, Forth Worth TX
“What is it like to be female choreographer in the dance industry”
I think because of my background in modern/contemporary dance I have always seen women as leaders in the field, literally. Women planted the seeds and tended the garden that I play in today. Many of them; Isadora Duncan, Ruth St. Denis, Martha Graham and Twyla Tharp were initially based in Southern California. I had no trouble imagining myself as a choreographer and director of a company with these women imprinted in my mind. That is why it’s so critical to me that everyone is represented in media and the arts. Each of us - regardless of gender, race or sexual preference - deserves to see that the life they dream of is possible. The commercial side is a bit trickier. It feels like a balancing act - maintaining your dignity and power while serving a typically male hierarchy. I also feel a tremendous responsibility to protect dancers who are the most vulnerable on set.
Sasha, Los Angeles
“What’s your favorite way to warm up?”
Oooohhhh, I cannot warm up alone. I really need company!