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Slate Culture

Working: A Choreographer's Systems for Creativity

Slate Culture

Slate Podcasts

Arts, Tv & Film, Music

4.42K Ratings

🗓️ 5 November 2023

⏱️ 47 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Raja Feather Kelly, a choreographer and director who works both on Broadway and with his dance-theatre-media company, The Feath3r Theory. In the interview, Raja discusses the useful systems and strategies he’s developed with his collaborators at The Feath3r Theory and how he’s able to apply some of that wisdom to his work on Broadway. He also shares the process behind his upcoming show, The Absolute Future of the Multiverse of How to Cover the Sun with Mud. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas discuss the “big emotions” that drive their work. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Raja discusses his long-time obsession with Andy Warhol. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to [email protected] or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

The only thing that I am certain of is that I will do the work that it takes.

0:14.5

If you put me on a show, if you invite me into a room, if you ask me to collaborate,

0:20.1

I will do that to my bones and that is something I actually wish weren't the case.

0:30.0

Welcome back to Working. I'm your host, June Thomas.

0:33.5

And I am your other host, Isaac Butler.

0:36.3

Isaac, it is always a pleasure to see you, but...

0:39.0

It's been a while. There was a while when we were seeing each other constantly,

0:42.4

but it's been a couple weeks. It's good to be back.

0:44.8

We've had a whole fortnight away from each other, but much as I'd love to chichichichichtia with you,

0:49.9

I have to know whose voice we heard at the top of the show.

0:54.0

That was the voice of choreographer, extraordinary Raja Feather Kelly.

0:59.1

And why did you want to speak with him now?

1:01.4

Well, Raja is operating at a very high level as a choreographer

1:05.9

currently he has his own company the feather theory with which he's made you

1:10.3

know groundbreaking well-reviewed award-bedecked work but he's also over the last few

1:16.8

years moved to choreographing in the far more commercial and collaborative world of Broadway musicals.

1:24.4

And so I was sort of interested in, you know, the choreographer minds and how you bridge the gap between

1:29.9

what you might call, you know, postmodern, capital H, H capital A high art dance even though I don't believe

1:35.6

in the difference in higher and low art and you know something is grimy and popular and

1:39.9

corrupted as the as the Broadway musical. Yes.

1:44.0

And say, did you ask him anything strictly for the ears of our Sleep Plus members?

1:49.0

It's funny you should mention that, June, because I did.

...

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