*And 5 other questions DDD would love to hear your thoughts on
By Meghan Bowden
So according to the National Bureau of Economic Research* the recent recession that changed so many of our lives in the artistic world and beyond officially ended in June, 2009.
Huh? Really?
What struck me about this little-known economic fact is that no matter how well the economy is doing, whether you’re an artist or a biologist, finding a healthy balance between one’s life work and driving passions is always a precarious endeavor. Last week we heard from David Dorfman Dance’s Renuka Hines about how teaching infuses her dancing with humility and inspiration.
This week we’ll hear from Raja Feather Kelly, dancing fiend, about his balancing act as a performing artist with multiple dance companies. But first, what do you have to say on the subject?
Raja, what’s your job title outside of DDD?
Company Manager for zoe | juniper
Dancer for Race Dance, Kyle Abraham/Abraham.in.Motion, zoe | juniper, Christopher Williams Dance
What was the first job you had after college?
Company Member with Lisa Race (2 hrs after Graduation)
Performing Apprentice with David Dorfman Dance (4 days after Graduation)
Company Member Colleen Thomas Dance (2 Months After )
Company Member Isadora Dance ( 2 months After)
Company Manager - Ellen Cornfield ( 4 Months after Graduation)
Company Manager - RaceDance (4 months after Graduation)
Host- Sarabeth's Restaurant ( 5 months after graduation)
What was the highest paying job you’ve had?
Company Managing
What are 3 most important lessons you learned from the bill-paying jobs you’ve had?
Bills will always be there; find something you enjoy.
A job is just a job. It's there to support what you want to do.
You can make it work.
What are you doing now? How does it supports you as a dancer with David Dorfman Dance?
I work around my dancing, if it doesn't fit, i don't do it.
What’s your advice to dancers out there in finding the right job to pay the bills and support their dancing?
Work around your dancing, don't dance around your work.
RAJA FEATHER KELLY originally from Fort Hood, Texas, is an honors graduate from Connecticut College. Having received his BA in Dance and English. He is currently a company member of David Dorfman Dance, RaceDance led by Lisa Race, Kyle Abraham’s Abraham.in.Motion in NYC, Zoe Scofield|Juniper Shuey in Seattle, WA and Christopher Williams Dance. Raja has also performed with Colleen Thomas and Dancers, IsadoraNOW, Sue Healy Dance company in Sydney Australia and Dairakudikan from Tokyo Japan. His own choreography with thefeath3rtheory had its premiere in October 2010 at DNA in NYC. Raja is also very excited to have been selected as a DanceWEB scholarship recipient for the 2009 Impulstanz Dance Festival in Vienna, Austria.
* Check out this review of the recession report in the New Yorker.
It’s an amusing commentary on the “irrationality” of such reporting and its usefulness to the everyday citizen.
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/johncassidy/2010/09/is-the-recession-really-over.html#ixzz1PBogN36U
By Meghan Bowden
So according to the National Bureau of Economic Research* the recent recession that changed so many of our lives in the artistic world and beyond officially ended in June, 2009.
Huh? Really?
What struck me about this little-known economic fact is that no matter how well the economy is doing, whether you’re an artist or a biologist, finding a healthy balance between one’s life work and driving passions is always a precarious endeavor. Last week we heard from David Dorfman Dance’s Renuka Hines about how teaching infuses her dancing with humility and inspiration.
This week we’ll hear from Raja Feather Kelly, dancing fiend, about his balancing act as a performing artist with multiple dance companies. But first, what do you have to say on the subject?
- How do you pay the bills, AND allow passion to thrive in your life?
- What was your first job?
- What’s a lesson you’ve learned from the job you have now or one from the past?
- When was the last time you got funky?
- Any work/passion advice to share?
Raja, what’s your job title outside of DDD?
Company Manager for zoe | juniper
Dancer for Race Dance, Kyle Abraham/Abraham.in.Motion, zoe | juniper, Christopher Williams Dance
What was the first job you had after college?
Company Member with Lisa Race (2 hrs after Graduation)
Performing Apprentice with David Dorfman Dance (4 days after Graduation)
Company Member Colleen Thomas Dance (2 Months After )
Company Member Isadora Dance ( 2 months After)
Company Manager - Ellen Cornfield ( 4 Months after Graduation)
Company Manager - RaceDance (4 months after Graduation)
Host- Sarabeth's Restaurant ( 5 months after graduation)
What was the highest paying job you’ve had?
Company Managing
What are 3 most important lessons you learned from the bill-paying jobs you’ve had?
Bills will always be there; find something you enjoy.
A job is just a job. It's there to support what you want to do.
You can make it work.
What are you doing now? How does it supports you as a dancer with David Dorfman Dance?
I work around my dancing, if it doesn't fit, i don't do it.
What’s your advice to dancers out there in finding the right job to pay the bills and support their dancing?
Work around your dancing, don't dance around your work.
RAJA FEATHER KELLY originally from Fort Hood, Texas, is an honors graduate from Connecticut College. Having received his BA in Dance and English. He is currently a company member of David Dorfman Dance, RaceDance led by Lisa Race, Kyle Abraham’s Abraham.in.Motion in NYC, Zoe Scofield|Juniper Shuey in Seattle, WA and Christopher Williams Dance. Raja has also performed with Colleen Thomas and Dancers, IsadoraNOW, Sue Healy Dance company in Sydney Australia and Dairakudikan from Tokyo Japan. His own choreography with thefeath3rtheory had its premiere in October 2010 at DNA in NYC. Raja is also very excited to have been selected as a DanceWEB scholarship recipient for the 2009 Impulstanz Dance Festival in Vienna, Austria.* Check out this review of the recession report in the New Yorker.
It’s an amusing commentary on the “irrationality” of such reporting and its usefulness to the everyday citizen.
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/johncassidy/2010/09/is-the-recession-really-over.html#ixzz1PBogN36U
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