Making Moves for Mac Miller

Before leaving for Argentina, I got a last minute invitation to head to Pittsburgh with Rex Arrow Films to set choreography for the new Mac Miller video. I was amped at the prospect of working with Rex Arrow Films again after our collaboration on the new Theo Martin's video (which should be dropping shortly, I'm told). I met Mac about two years ago with Rex Arrow/Hype Wolfson on the set of his video for Got a Clue and was looking forward to working with him all grown up. Rex and Mac have come a LONG way since then and it's been super exciting to watch them both develop as artists and gain the recognition they both deserve. The energy on the shoot was unlike anything I've seen in all my dancing years. Everyone involved knew the potential we were working with and senses were heightened. I had 4 hours to teach the dancers some moves and then it was a whirlwind 48 hours of all day/all night filming, an exhilarating and at times really stressful experience! I'm primarily a modern dancer and choreographer and if you know anything about that world, its pretty much the complete opposite of being on set. The process for making and performing modern dance is often long and emotional and once the performance is over, it's like it never happened at all! It's so fleeting and sadly, there's hardly ever good footage captured. (This Photo belongs to Rex Arrow Films)

Working on set isn't like that. It's high pressure over a short period of time. Once all the choreography is made and taught to the dancers, sections are filmed from every possible angle, and then it's out of the choreographer's hands completely! The director takes over and makes something new with the material you've provided. It is nice to be able to step back and watch what happens, even though after hours of shooting it can be hard to see only seconds of your work spliced in. Still, there is something very rewarding about working with so many constraints, trying to come up with movement that is both creative and that also fits the needs of the video, and then just letting go. When the whole world is my oyster, as it is when I make my own work, sometimes the limitless possibilities make it hard to move forward. This simply isn't an obstacle on a video set, especially one with such a tight time crunch. You get in, work your a$$ off for two days and don't have time to over-think every little thing. You run from the set to catch an 11:00 pm bus back home in time for your cousin's engagement party and everyone stares as you board with neon body paint all over you and a semi-permanent afro left over from shooting. 30 hours later, your on a plane to Buenos Aires. BAM!

Three weeks later, I am seeing the fruits of the labor fully realized, and it's a pretty damn amazing sight. Yesterday the video was the #2 most blogged video after Lady Gaga! I think I just realized what my next goal is ; )


Special thanks to Mac, Rex, Noam, JON CHEN, Erin, Karen, Bethany, and my four lovely dancers for making this experience so rich and rewarding.

A Good Meal

By Danny and Sarah's last day in Buenos Aires, we had all become experts at typical Argentine eating; very long and very glorious meals composed of meat piles, massive root vegetables, french fries, wine, beer, coffee, and dulce deleche to finish. We decided to have our last lunch at Caseros, a special little restaurant in San Telmo that Sarah discovered, and it was anything but typical. We applied our learned passion for endless plates of meat to the more delicate dishes we were served, organic pea soup with heavy cream, homemade spinach pasta with rabbit meat balls and black olive, roast chicken stuffed with vegetables, subtle and oh so soft-veal chops, and a sparkly mint lemonade to cleanse the palate before the dream-worthy caramelized orange and dark chocolate tower. We were oohing and ahing all the way to the airport, so satisfied. Truly, it was a good meal.

Choque Urbano

Soooo I've been in Buenos Aires for 5 days and I already feel saturated with Argentine culture. I came to BA for the first time exactly a year ago for two weeks and had the time of my life, so this time I've decided to escape the sticky heat of NYC and spend the month of August here. Being able to work freelance from my laptop when I'm not dancing or performing is key, but its hard for me not to want to spring out of bed each day and sightsee and tango and stuff my face with steak and ginormous root vegetables. The good thing is, Buenos Aires is VERY much a night culture, so I can work during the day and explore the city at night. So far I've been to an awesome tango lesson at a big old funky tango bar/ warehouse called La Catedral, attended an asado, or barbecue with some super friendly locals (barbeque takes on an entirely different meaning here, FYI... no flimsy burgers and hotdogs), walked around the cobblestone streets of the super chic neighborhood Palermo Soho, and eaten more meat than I usually do in a month. All wonderful. So imagine my bliss when yesterday my BFFAE Sarah DH and her boyfriend Danny arrived in BA to join me and my favorite Argentine for a week of adventures. Last night we went to see “Baila!” the new show by Choque Urbano or "Urban Crash" a popular performance company. I had heard great things, and when I finally got to experience the dancing and drumming explosion myself, I was enthralled. Dancers and drummers creating a techno underworld on stage? Hello my fantasy.

Moments of Clarity

There are some rare occasions when I become acutely aware of my surroundings, my presence and energy in those surroundings, and I realize am truly living in the moment. There are only a few things that make me feel this way. Travel is one of them. When I travel I lose my hungry and perpetually unsatisfied what’s- the- next –best- thing- whats- the- next –thing- am- I- being- productive -enough-I’m definitely- not- being- productive- enough- New-Yorker- thing. I gain the ability to luxuriate in the world and I feel free to be exactly where I am and who I am at that moment, without worrying about what comes next. Seeing excellent live music can also do this for me (actually the Bon Iver webcast from his DC show had the same effect, he must be really damn good.) Finally and so thankfully, Dance. When I am dancing I feel an utter clarity, like I am really and truly awake and in this world. Is there something that makes you feel that way?

These photos were taken by my dear friend and massage therapist Yvonne Kawamura during a performance of Vain Combat on the Highline.