Smash Cut is BlakTinx Dance Festivals’ third alumni concert. Smash Cut is a technique in film/video where one scene abruptly cuts to another for aesthetic, narrative or emotional impact. BlakTinx’s third virtual concert uses this as a diving off point, embracing this genre, digging deeper into choreographic and technical experimentation. These ten choreographers bring their individual, dynamic movement style and artistic visions to embody Smash Cut, expressing tenacity, hope, lineage, humor and surprise! Learn more about the selected artist, our production team and our panelist below.
click below to learn more about the smashcut artist
Ni de aquí, Ni de allá
by Nancy Rivera
Director of Photography: Kassandra Carrettini
Producers: Nancy Rivera & Kassandra Carrettini
Choreographer: Nancy Rivera
Editor: Kassandra Carrettini
Starring: Athena Cruz
Dancers: Rachel Bergeron, Krystal Masteller, Mía Clark, Victoria Triggedsson and Cassidy Burroughs
Actors: Noemi Torres as Mother, Dan Lopecci as Father, Stav Ben Zur as Dance Instructor
1st Assistant Camera: Erin Erickson
2nd Assistant Camera: Matt Jones
Lighting Technitian: Matt Jones
AD/LP: Vivi Yupanqui
Production Assistant: Maddie Neuville
Best Boy Grip: Joshua Tolon
Best Boy Grip #2: Jason Weiss
Best Boy Grip #3: Alejandro Borbón
Music: La gota fría by Carlos Vives, La llorona by Lila Downs, Mariposa de Coalcomán by Y la Bamba, A soft throbbing of time by Frank Bretschneider and Deixa A Girar Girar by OsTincõas
In the pursuit of a feeling of belonging we find ourselves always moving forward, escaping both realities. Through the journey we can create a space of acceptance, where we can embrace our multiple cultures, our experiences — OUR OWN REALITY.
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I'm Black | Dance Therapy
by Keilah Glover
Choreographed by: Keilah Glover, Deonte Newell, Mychal Vandell, Heaven Lomotey and James Cleaver
Dancers: Brittney Benson, Cydney Ayrion, Marlon Jamez
Fake PD: Paige Keen and Kenneth Hall
Videographers: Johny De & Alik Tsyupa
Special thanks to Michele Hall & Chris Adams
Dance Thearapy
Dancers: Keilah Glover, Juquari Baskin, Marlon Jamez, Chris Rodriguez, Krystal Boyd, Crystal Pryor, Antoinette Scot
Videographers: Johny De
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Blue
by Melesio Aceves
Choreographer/Dancer: Melesio Anthony Aceves
Company: AkomiDance
Director/Videographer: Nick Walker
Music Title: “How’s the World Treating You” (as made famous by Elvis Presley)
Music Artist: Cover by Daniel Agee
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Plea for my people
by Stacey Strickland Jr.
Dancers: Harmonie Outlaw, Dylan Sanders, Stacey Strcikland Jr. and Isaiah Carson
Videography and Editing: Stacey Strickland JR
Music: "Colors On The Ground" by Trevor Jackson, "Black Death: Spoken word" by Marquan Nesbitt(Quan The Poet), and "Wake Up" by Tobe Nwigwe.
Additional choreography by: Harmonie Outlaw
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luchx
by Rosa Rodriguez-Frazier
Choreographer: Rosa Rodriguez-Frazier in collaboration with dancers
Dancers: Luis Arteaga, Emilio Manzano, and Jonathan Ramirez-Toledo
Filming: Rosa Rodriguez-Frazier, Anita Meinken, Bodie Smith
Editor: Rosa Rodriguez-Frazier
Music: mona ki ngi xica (Synapson remix) by Bonga
Filming Location: Back to the Grind Coffee House, Downtown Riverside, CA
Costumes: Rosa Rodriguez Frazier + Dancers
Lighting: Rosa Rodriguez-Frazier + Bodie Smith
"Luchx" is a dance film that seeks to create a provocative, club-like queer environment where an array of non-normative femininities and masculinities can unapologetically co-exist and be celebrated at the same time. This is a dance that rejects the infinite circularity of “la lucha” (the struggle) against gender and cultural conformity, and proposes fluidity in the “x” of every ser humano who desires to express themself como el/ella/they desea (desire).â €
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Gladiolo y lirio
by Joshua D. Estrada-Romero
Choreographer/Videographer/Dancer: Joshua D. Estrada-Romero
Music: La Santa Cecilia
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Dance passage
by Michelle Funderburk-Norris
Director of Videography- Michelle Funderburk- Norris
Choreography: Michelle Funderburk- Norris
Performers: Mychal Vandell Harris, Michelle Funderburk-Norris, Paris Sanjurjo, Jordan Sims
Sound: Rite of Passage by Kevin Macleod
Poetry Written and Performed by Michelle Funderburk-Norris
Editor: Francesca Lee
Videography: Michelle Funderburk- Norris
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(re)volver
by Rosanna Tavarez
Choreographer/Dancer: Rosanna Tavarez
DP & Editor: Robbie Shaw
Music: "No Hay Tierra Como La Mia"
Music Composer/Performer: Francisco Canaro, Orquesta Francisco Canaro
Shot entirely in Rosanna Tavarez’s neighborhood of North Hollywood, this work captures the moment of its reawakening, post-pandemic lockdown. "(Re)volver" is a joyful romp through landmark areas of the NoHo Arts District danced to the playful, milonga tune “No Hay Tierra Como La Mia” by Francisco Canaro. The solo blends traditional tango elements with contemporary dance via structured improvisation and taps into the anticipation of dancing in community once again.
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muscle Memory
by Irishia Hubbard
Dancers: Kyla Chaney, Nicole Rivor & Julienne Mackey
DP, Videographer & Editor: Irishia Hubbard
PA: Santiago Rivera
Lighting: Ebony Madry
Music: Kitchen Talk
Music Composed by Dylan Romaine in collaboration with Irishia Hubbard
“muscle Memory” reflects the intergenerational ties between three women and how their memories are interwoven into their home. All of their experiences live and breathe through the walls, and are symbols of history and who they are as women. The composition was recorded in part through the use of items found around the kitchen and home.
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Rasquachencias
by Primera Generación Dance Collective
Choreographer and danced by Primera Generación Dance Collective: Alfonso Cervera, Rosa Rodriguez-Frazier, Irvin Manuel Gonzalez, and Patricia “Patty” Huerta
Filming: Leo Rivas, Alfonso Cervera and Rosa Rodriguez-Frazier
Editor: Rosa Rodriguez-Frazier
Music: Youtube Free Music Royalty-free songs; Cumbia by Luis Escamilla; La pava by Camilo Martinez ft Shango Dely
Text: Guillermo Gómez-Peña, Tomás Ybarra-Frausto, and Cherrie L. Moraga
Voices: Rosa Rodriguez-Frazier, Irvin Manuel Gonzalez, and Patricia "Patty" Huerta
Music Composer & Performer: Francisco Canaro, Orquesta Francisco Canaro
Costumes: Primera Generación Dance Collective
“Rasquachencias” showcases our collective past, present, and future works to consolidate a vibrant picture of our Mexican American sociality. This piece explores the power of rasquache play, engaging the possibilities in loud colors, Latinx iconography, and recycled juxtapositions to highlight the creative survival strategies produced by the brown, working-class communities that we grew up in.
Special Thank you
To all the choreographers, dancers, film editors and everyone involved in making these dance films; thank you! To our mentees and administrative assistants: Irishia Hubbard and Nancy Rivera. Editor & Production Manager: Angel Castro. Graphic Designer: Monica Robles. To our distinguished panelists: Rhapsody James, Randé Dorn and Ericka Vaughn Byrne, thank you for your thoughtful curation of SmashCut.
We would also like to thank the following people for their help and support of the BlakTinx Dance Festivals: The Newberg Family; Ellen Jacobs, Felicia Rosenfeld, Dance Resource Center of LA, the Bootleg Board: Barbara Bestor, Charity Wu, Alison Dickey, Lisa Harris, Anne Alexander, Ramsey Naito, Licia Perea & Alicia Adams; The Latina Dance Project Board: Liliana Gomez, Matthew Dieckman, Tricia Nelson, Ericka Vaughn Byrne, Jose Garcia Davis & Licia Perea.
This concert was made possible through funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, The Latina Dance Project and Bootleg Theater; all listed below:
