Collaboration is the heart of my artistic process, not only with other artists, but also between art forms. I view the performing arts as a vehicle for integrated storytelling, combining elements of theater, dance, and music to create narrative pieces. I look to tell stories from history, from my own life, from the lives of imagined characters; stories that remind us of our humanity. When working with other artists, I ask them to bring their own history to our pieces and to tell our story through their individual lens. As my pieces develop, dancers become actors, actors become dancers, composers are emotional storytellers, and everyone is a collaborator in the choreographic process. I believe that to create truly universal work, the artistic process cannot fall to one person alone. Disparate experiences must be heard and accepted into the piece. I want my pieces to be a conversation and an exchange of perspectives and ideas.
Storytelling is the ultimate universal art form. Stories, histories, and narratives present ideas and characters and ask everyone involved, artists and audience members alike, to extract their own meaning. I believe storytelling is the most important aspect of our work as artists. I use stories to give structure to my work while also allowing myself the freedom to integrate abstract ideas and questions into my process.