Leading up to Philadelphia Dance Projects Presents 2010, we’ll be featuring a fresh interview with a series choreographer or dancer, offering an inside peek into the creative development of the artist’s work. This week, we talk with Chris Yon, a Next Up artist.
As part of PDP Presents 2010, you will present the imaginatively titled new work The Very Unlikeliness (I’m Going to KILL You!). Is there a story behind this performance title? Chris Yon: There is a “flashback” sequence in this piece – a sequence that if this were a concept album, it would be the title song – an attempt at a Fred & Ginger type number. And this was the most romantic title I could think of…
Are there any images or videos that you used as inspiration for creating this piece? Can you tell us a little about how these works inspire you? Chris Yon: I want it to feel like this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrEaLQGxHLY&feature=related
and this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR9av-I35ME&feature=related
simultaneously.
While there is a polarity between these clips in style and form, they hit my gut in similar ways. I’m not interested in nor could ever make something that resembles the work of Messrs Brown and Viola, but strive to manufacture a one-two gutbucket punch that a hypothetical marriage of these works would produce.
Have you workshopped The Very Unlikeliness (I’m Going to KILL You!) to a public audience? If so, did you receive any interesting comments about the piece? Chris Yon: “Taryn, your hair looked amazing! Especially at that moment when Chris punches you in the face!” Audience member during Q&A at 9X22 Dance Lab at the Bryant Lake Bowl, MPLS.
You are based in Minneapolis. Does the city itself contribute in any way to your artistic vision? Chris Yon: I am a third of the way through my second winter in Minneapolis and, well, have you ever seen The Shining? It took moving here to get the axe out and hack my way back on stage.
Look out for more interviews with series artists. Have your own Q&A questions? Email infophiladanceprojects [dot] org?subject=Artist%20question%20submission,%20PDP%20newsletter”>info@philadanceprojects.org to submit.