A Week at the McKittrick Hotel: Actor, Sleep No More, Punch Drunk NYC

So I wake up reeling from the nightmare, a cycle of tragedy and murder. I'm Macduff, not of woman born, who defies Macbeth's prophetic certainty. I don't know what day it is so I check my phone, the rehearsal doc. I'm not on the schedule today, but I might have been. They're brushing up the show – ongoing maintenance of subtle and gross aspects of the performance.

I have coffee and grow into my creaky skin and bones. It's probably 11 or maybe noon. I had two shows the night before, a marathon of partnering and parkourish solos. 6 hours of performance – 9 hours altogether in the cavernous, elaborate set plus then maybe a drink in the bar and to sleep at 4:30 or 5 am after a long train commute or an expensive cab ride home.

Leaving my apartment, I try to take as little as possible with me into the city for a plate of pasta before call, hopefully across from a friend. A book, keys, wallet; not having a bag makes a big difference in a regular walking commute. A light stroll through a gallery or the High Line is nice if I have a little time. Important to daydream.

Then warming up yoga, jogging, calisthenics, a dance class, or my own special movement practice for the day to get things nice and ready. When I do it right, I feel amazing.

In the week I'll have a day off and best to try to spend that somewhere where doing nothing is natural. The park, the beach. But I might have a rehearsal for something else or have to take care of some personal business matter that is a particular pain in this city. 

But rest is important. I have to take care of my body so I can do this 5-6 nights a week. I try to avoid injury through steady self care, epsom salt baths, rest, good warm ups. I'd rather stay off the therapist's table and keep dancing.

Brooklyn based artist Brandin Steffensen performs with Keely Garfield Dance and Liz Gerring Dance Company, and directs Underscore NYC. He performs his solo adaptation of Deborah Hay’s News and Glimpse: a performance installation of the Underscore with Nancy Stark Smith. His improvisational practices have roots in game theory and contemporary physics. Steffensen curates Dance Talk Show at The Actors Fund Arts Center and other dance showcases through the Catskill Collaborative. He has been making dances and teaching since 2000. Steffensen’s Pentamodes have been presented by La Mama, Dance Theater Workshop, Brooklyn Arts Exchange, The Tank, The New Museum, and The Harkness 92nd Street Y, among others. He has had the pleasure of dancing with Brian Brooks Moving Company, Tiffany Mills Dance Company, Lawrence Goldhuber, Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance, Christopher Williams, and Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. Film appearances include Walk Away Renee (2012) and Very Good Girls (2013). He holds a BFA in Modern Dance from the University of Utah. He is also a Reiki practitioner.

Image of "Pentamode;" photo by Whitney Browne

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