Know the Funk, Be the Funk, We The Funk(2017)
Know The Funk, Be The Funk, We The Funk was a piece I choreographed on the professional dancers at Bates Dance Festival. This work drew from the foundation of Lockin’, Poppin’, Breakin’, and late 80s Hip-Hop vocabulary to create choreography rooted in the Funk era, but with a fresh New School twist. Set to music by legends like James Brown, Parliament Funkadelic, The Ohio Players, and Chaka Khan, the piece celebrated the deep relationship between funk music and the social dances that came out of it. This choreography called for the dancers to bring their voice to the forefront, and to tell their personal stories of joy, struggle, celebration, and survival through rhythm, musicality, and raw energy. It wasn’t just about executing movement; it was about embodying the culture, honoring the legacy, and bringing the funk together.
Photo Credit: Jonathan Hsu