Self-portrait

I am a freelance dancer and also a choreographer, emerging filmmaker, and photographer. I have lived in New York City for the past 5 years, and most of those years I worked as a freelance dancer in various projects, kept many side hustle jobs including teaching kids, doggy daycare, and random administrative work/retail/food/beyond… I became a full-time dancer/performer about 1.5-2 years ago, in the midst of touring for Kate Weare Company, Helen Simoneau Danse, and gained enough freelance projects with my ongoing Pilates Certification to feel stable. I finished my Pilates Certification last winter (2017) and then landed my first full-time dance theater job with Punch Drunk’s Sleep No More NYC. Simultaneously last year, I gained more opportunities in residencies and performances to begin making my own work.

In November, I was offered the opportunity to join Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion touring dance company. So I now happily dance with A.I.M. full-time. I continue working with past freelance choreographers and peers, and I also currently make my own work too!

This particular dance week of my life is an interesting week — it includes the premiere of my work, about 4 days off (which never happens), company rehearsals, and organizing!! I think it's important to have time off for rest, recovery, research, administrative work, and also to see or spend time with peers. I have had many weeks with no full days off, which I am aiming to change, because it is so hard to sustain and also plan for the future when you have no time for yourself.

Questions for myself (being new in a dance company and attempting to make work…):

1. BALANCE!! – I am looking for more balance in my life with all of the goals I want to make happen. I know I will remain incredibly (possibly too much) ambitious. So how can I better organize and structure my time and space to be ready for full-time company work, supporting my own making, and also the work I do with other companies?

2. How can I best take care of myself? Sleep, making home cooked meals, pilates and injury prevention? Seeing friends? Cleaning my room?

Black Bodies Sonata – Kayla Farris and Nik Owens. Screen shot image from the film by Deborah Corrales and Kayla Farrish.

Monday 4/9/18- Premiere Day of “Black Bodies Sonata” at Movement Research at the Judson Church

Late Sunday/early Monday morning- arrive back to New York City from LA tour with Kyle Abraham (straight to bed after organizing!!)

7am-7:30am Wake up and search for fans for my set – I have been unable to find one in the city due to the long winter temperatures. Find one at Lowes and make plan for the day!

7:30am-8:45am Sleep more

9am-9:45am Get ready and find out rehearsal is postponed to 12pm, which works out

10am-11am Go to Lowes Home Improvement in Gowanus and buy affordable fan for performance

11-11:20 Uber pool to dance studio

11:20-12 Eat breakfast/review last minute changes and set up for my premiere

12-2pm Rehearsal with another company for dance film

2pm-3:30pm Late lunch and prep time and more self rehearsal for my work

3:30pm-4:15pm Review Black Bodies Sonata with collaborator

4:15-5pm Travel to venue, Judson Church

5-6pm Prep for tech time, preset set (fan, fabric, and clamp lights), and run through piece

6:20-7pm Tech for Black Bodies Sonata

7-8pm Dinner needs, rehearsal, breathing, excitement

8pm Show

8:35 Premiere work!!

9pm-9:40pm Feedback, friends, art supporters, new introductions, post performance

10pm Uber pool home with props, set, and costumes

11pm Late bath and wired excitement about the night!! Then fall asleep.

REFLECTION: I am full and just vibrating with the joy of sharing my new work. I am blown away by the support of friends and long-time supporters who came out tonight. I am so happy that in their feedback, people could feel and experience my work as we were performing. The work was able to make such an impact, and the words expressed in feedback were exactly my goals in making Black Bodies Sonata and all of my work so far.

QUESTIONS: How can I find more options in affordable space? Interest in residencies and grants…

How can I continue to share this work?

WELLNESS: Choreographing is incredibly fulfilling and helps to feed me as a dancer. I did not drink enough water or eat enough food today though. Muscle aches!!

Tuesday 4/10 - First Day Off in a Long Time

10:30am-12:30pm Emails!! Administrative work for freelance dancing, scheduling, and also research into my future investments (laptop and camera equipment).

12-1pm Lunch

1-2:30pm Clean, organize, and phone meeting

3-6pm Tax prep work (deductions)

6:45pm-7:45pm Pick up from pharmacy and travel to Brooklyn theater

8pm See a friend’s political performance that I’ve been trying to see for a year!

9pm Talk with artists and friends post performance, buy art work

10pm-midnight Movie date night!!

WELLNESS REFLECTION: It made me so happy to go see Kyle Marshall’s performance “Colored." I have been waiting a year to see this work, as I could never make it to the previous shows. The trio have an incredible, visceral dynamic of power, sensitivity, and experience. I know them personally, but I have seen them in a new way today. I bought artwork from a close friend who performed in the piece. I was nervous about spending money, however it seems the most worthwhile to invest in art and what inspires me.

I needed the time today. I was exhausted.

Wednesday 4/11- Two Rehearsals Canceled and One Audition

10am-noon Research on future investments – photo editing classes, camera equipment, and clothing that needs to be replaced (dance clothes and shoes).

12-2pm Tax prep work

2-3pm Prep for audition

3-4pm Travel into the city

4-6pm Dance Film Audition Workshop/sharing stories, movement, and learning about building story on film

6-7pm Dinner

7-8pm Pick up missing W-2 form and print 1099

9pm-1am Finish tax deduction work

WELLNESS REFLECTION: The Dance Film Audition Workshop was therapeutic and cathartic. I went in timid and unsure if I could share personal stories. Luckily there were just three of us, and the director set up an intimate, safe space. I shared some of my solo dance work and writing. I listened to another’s intimate stories, and then we improvised contact work with human qualities. I felt incredibly connected to the director’s intention and perspective. I look forward to future work!! I love that this opportunity blends my love for dance and film.

QUESTIONS: How can I better prep myself for tax deduction as an independent business? I woul like to keep better record of my expenses and investments throughout the year so that tax season isn’t so difficult.

This preparation also helps me to keep a better budget for my art making. I can better prioritize my spendings.

Thursday 4/12- TAXES and Company Rehearsal-Review Day

7:30am Wake up!

7:50-9:08am Grab breakfast and have bad train travel luck heading up to accountant

9:10am-11:40am Wait in line for accountant

11:45-12:15 Work with accountant on filing taxes

12:30-1:30 Travel to studio

1:30-2 Lunch and relax

2-8pm Rehearsal

9pm HOT Bath

10:30pm Talk on the phone with friend; found new music

11:30pm Sleep

WELLNESS/REFLECTION: I still need to get more sleep. Organizing my tax deductions throughout the year would help this process. I am relieved to have them completed. It’s nice to talk on the phone with a friend too…

Friday 4/13- Rehearsals and Night Out on the Town

9:30am Wake up

10:15am Left a little late for travel

11am-1pm Solo rehearsal for my own work – upcoming performance at the end of the month

1pm Lunch in the warm sun and picked up t-shirt from Pilates studio that I left behind

2pm-8pm Dance company rehearsal

9:30pm Late friends’ happy hour, karaoke, and dancing!! All affordable or covered by company!

WELLNESS REFLECTION: I am happily reviving an improvisation from last year for an upcoming performance. Today was my first rehearsal!

-It was nice to have another review day for upcoming company performances. We also got farther in finishing our final piece.

-I had such a surprising and fun night singing karaoke and dancing!! I love music. I love spending time with friends, meeting new friends, and also saving money if I can!

QUESTIONS: What will I make for upcoming choreographic performance opportunities? What residencies, grant applications, and work-study opportunities can best support my next steps in development and ideas?

Saturday 4/14- First Full Weekend Off in a While – Days Off are Good

Slept in and rested

1:30pm Took a hot bath

2-3:15pm Narrowed and selected upcoming residency and grant applications of interest and wrote down deadlines; got dressed up with make up

4:20pm Late meal and drinks with friend at cheap BBQ spot

6:45pm Go to friend's cookout but weather temperature drops!! Eek

7-11pm Cold cookout/house party gathering, meeting new people

11pm Local bar with warmth and a bit of dancing

Late – Sleepover at friend's house with sister visiting

WELLNESS/REFLECTION: Enjoyed hot bath, organization, and meeting with friend to catch up!! The cookout was just too cold and not as enjoyable unfortunately! However, I am trying to give myself a weekend to do less. It is healthy to not be frenetic all the time.

Sunday 4/15- Last Day Off

12pm Brunch with friend and her sister

4pm Travel and see scary movie with sister I just met (The Quiet Place)

6-7pm Travel home in crazy winds and rain!

8:30pm-11pm Follow up on administrative emails, scheduling, and future freelance work and choreographic planning; grocery planning

11pm Research flights for home visit

12am In bed

REFLECTION/WELLNESS: It was nice to have a full weekend and a professional Spring Break in a way. I needed the time to recover, organize, and also just to have fun with friends. I never go to brunch or to the movies. I will admit by tonight, I felt some guilt for not being more productive. Then I returned back to emails!

QUESTIONS:

How can I continue to find balance and not be pressured to stay in the overstimulating New York hustle?

When are you most productive, somewhat productive, and when do you need a break?

How can I stay afloat or ahead of momentum?

I want to enjoy each day as a full-time dancer and also evolve to sustain a career…

I want to trust my inspirations and enjoy life each day as they come…

Photo: Hope Young