I do love this new medium even with its many issues. I have never been comfortable with the idea that artists must beg for money before we can even dream of booking a rehearsal space let alone take the great risk of creating something that might fail spectacularly. Crowdfunding feels a bit more genuine when compared to the traditional appeal for grand sums from local businesses or the tried and true donation basket at the end of the show (yes, I believe in this method, but crowdfunding at least gives you the potential to appeal to someone other than your current audience). Crowdfunding often gives you the opportunity to support or be supported in small ways by people who really believe in what you're doing. It's all sorts of inspiring... but...
As someone who can't even pay her own rent at the moment, I am usually forced to ignore the request and try to volunteer for a show to give my support or spring for a ticket. SO, when I was contacted from Fighting Gravity, a group I've never heard of and people I've never ever met, I thought, "Delete, delete, delete...wait... read more...", and I started thinking about what might make me donate, or just become aware of and share about a project that is not in my traditional medium of modern concert dance and not by a company I've followed over the years. So I asked for more information.
Fighting Gravity , described as a "group of fraternity brothers" who perform "mind-bending black light performances from Virginia Tech to America's Got Talent"... "with a show that is by, for, and about our generation" seems to be following all the rules of successful crowdfunding: an exciting look, a catchy message, aggressive marketing, and engagement. I got curious. How'd they get started? Who are their dancers? How'd they end up together? What might my college students, who are interested in much more than just modern concert dance, learn from them? They obliged and gave me the whole story which I have included below. What did they get from me? My interest and, obviously, I'm sharing it with you. It also gives me and my students a little window into what it takes to create and support a show that is meant to please, inspire, wow, and woo the up and coming generation.
As a modern dancer and choreographer, I've taken a lesson from these folks. If you are willing to share a personal story, you get investment of some kind, even if it's word of mouth. And that's gotta be worth something.
Read on for their answers to my many questions and hear the dancers in the show share their thoughts:
Travis Dalrymple and Mike Matsumoto of Fighting Gravity
- How long did it take to get from doing performances with no pay to paying gigs?
- Fighting Gravity didn't actually exist until our first performance on America's Got Talent. So we weren't established at all until after the show was finished. After AGT we went on tour for about two months with other acts from the show. As soon as that tour was over, we started receiving inquiries across the country and the world. So our first real paid gig was about a month or so after we got off tour. We know the route we've taken is totally crazy compared to most dancers or artists where it can take years to get paid for your craft - we weren't trained performers and what we were doing isn't traditional dance. But having worked with, hired or performed with real dancers, we are blown away by the dedication, talent and spirit of dancers and the dance community. That spirit is something that we hope comes across in our show.
- What were your original ideas about your future versus now?
- Our original plans were just like most other college students across the world, graduate and try to find a career within the fields that we were studying. Once we went on America's Got Talent that all changed completely. Ever since then we've been working with one goal in mind: our very own full length show in NYC. And then world domination.
- How easy/hard is the day-to-day work?
- The day-to-day work changes often. Some days it can be extremely stressful and other days it can be laid back. It's constantly changing, which is actually quite refreshing because it's always something new. Some days we're working on choreography, some days we're working on design, others we're building new props and painting. The best days are when we're performing.
- How much time does it take to support the project?
- It's more than a full time job to support the project. But you make it work because it's your dream and a shot at creating something amazing for our generation. Things tend to pop up on short notice and you have to always be ready to handle a situation or make a call. You really have to be able to work at a moments notice.
- Do you have other income sources or it this full time?
- Some of us have multiple jobs and some of us work on FG full time. Luckily there's enough of us that we can be flexible and spread work across several people to accomplish our goals. It takes a lot of sacrifice - we've put everything we have into this. Blood, sweat, tears and blacklight!
- What else does it take to get a new project off the ground?
- It takes determination, desire, a lot of team effort and constant innovation. It takes work...lots of it. And a good amount of luck. You have to be ready to be told "no" - and then push on til you get the "yes" from the right people for the right reasons. You can't be afraid of change because when you work on large projects like a full length stage show, there are a lot of people involved and you have to be able to collaborate at all times. If it were easy everybody would have a show but the entire experience thus far, whether good or bad, has taught us so much about ourselves, the business, and the show we want to make.
The Dancers of Fighting Gravity
- What was your journey to becoming a professional dancer?
"Taking a chance and risking it all by moving to NYC with only a dream."
-Leo Reyes
"I've been training my whole life to become a professional dancer. I always knew it was what I wanted to do. I'm from NJ so it was easy to access amazing classes and inspiration in a close by NYC."
-Matthew Tiberi
"I am from a competition studio growing up, and moved to New York City for college and for the amazing dance classes and training that the city had to offer while I was in school. Really trying to get the best of both the collegiate and dance worlds. I ended up auditioning and dancing for the television show on FOX, "So You Think You Can Dance," that propelled my professional dancing career into overdrive and I have been working professionally since then."
- Melanie Moore
- Do you feel certain cities support dancers more?
Yes, dance and the arts in general are strongly supported in some cities and states, whereas that interest is almost non existent in other parts of the US. New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Miami, Boulder, and Boston are among those we think are highly supportive.
- What are the challenges that an original show like Fighting Gravity present?
Creating a full length, 75 minute, production out of some 90 second ideas has been a daunting, yet exciting task! Also, working with the various elements of the show like black light, illusions, multimedia, and audience interaction has been a challenge to create the precision and depth that we hope to achieve.
- How long would a project like this run for you? Are you already looking for the next project?
We are all hoping this show will take off, be HUGE, and run indefinitely! However, a smart dancer knows and as the saying goes, "You shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket." A dancer should always have something in the works, just in case their first choice doesn't follow through. (Even though we have a feeling this one will!!) In other words, we NEVER stop auditioning!
The Fighting Gravity Company
photos by Caleb Sharp
photos by Caleb Sharp
Cat Cogliandro, Reed Luplau, Jenn Freeman, Michael Ramos Sandy Shelton and company
photos by Caleb Sharp
Michael ramos, Kourtni Lind, Ehizoje Azeke, Reed Luplau, Matthew Tiberi
photos by Caleb Sharp
Visit Fighting Gravity at www.Fightingravity.com
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