Kemba
~ Choreographer ~
Interview Questions from Copa Style Magazine:
I am from Prince Georges County, Maryland
2. Which schools have you attended?
Clara Muhammad Muslim School (Pre-K & Kindergarten)
Thomas G. Pullen Performing Arts Academy (5th grade-8th grade) = Music Major 6th-8th grade
Suitland High School (9th grade-12th grade)= Music Major 9th grade / Dance Major 10th-12th grade
Virginia Commonwealth University (1 yr.)= Major =Dance and Choreography
SUNY Purchase College (4yrs) Conservatory of Dance: Concentration in Composition & Minor in Arts Management
3. What did you major in and what activities did you enjoy the most?
SUNY Purchase
Conservatory of Dance
Major: DANCE
Concentration: Composition
Minor: Arts Management
At the age of 5, I started to discover the magic of Dance and Music. My mother enrolled me in The Davis Center dance school and the Levine School of music in Washington, DC. In 2001, I participated in my childhood church Talent Show by performing my choreography to CeCe Winans -The River bonus track for "The Prince of Egypt" movie.
“This is my first choreography showcase ever!" I presented my dance composition at Shiloh Baptist Church, Washington, "DC Children’s Day Talent Show," on June 8, 2001. I was seven years old.
I would practice my dance moves in the living room. Once I got on stage, I immediately started to feel nervous, but I kept going!
At that age, I loved to dance with my arms and I still do to this day. Plus, watching the DreamWorks "Prince of Egypt" (1998) movie as a child sparked my creative energy, which inspired me to dance to this beautiful song and planted the seed for me to blossom into a creative artist as I have gotten older.
At, the Levine School of music in Washington, DC I studied the Violin. Studying music plays a major part of my creativity as a director, choreographer, and dancer. Music education taught me the importance of learning all parts to a song, such as the melody and the harmony. After, you learn the overall idea you can then make creative changes, such as changing the key signature, the dynamics, and changing the songs pitch by playing different violin positions.
Also, growing up learning how to read music molded me to create choreography to complex musical compositions. I like dancing to music with layers, because I can see multi stories playing in my head simultaneously.
My Dad would always play Oldies music in the house. So, I have a true appreciation for real music composition, thoughtful lyrics, and the positive energy good music gives to the body and mind.
The movement of the camera in films is very important to me to see!
I took a class in college called Collaborative Video for Choreography taught by Professor Judy Lieff, that class trained my eye as a videographer and video editor.
The camera angles have the power to capture dance movement from multi angles.
You can play with the speed of the movement
You can tell a story from multi perspectives
I love how film alters the choreography:
To fit into the camera frame and or the location you are shooting.
Adapting the movement to the location
I learned this saying in college “If you don’t have something to throw away, then you have nothing worth keeping.”
Editing is so important! Not using footage or dance material that I really like can be nerve racking. However, the end goal is to make my storyline seamless. As a student, I learned how adding too much material can weaken the storyline and the intention. That is why it is good to not get too attached, but to remain open to changes.
At SUNY Purchase college, I was in a composition concentration. One of the major things I had to learn was to stop generating too much material. I learned choreographic devices to manipulate material into different ideas or perspectives. So, to the viewer it may look like a new idea. The movement vocabulary is the same, but the intention is different.
Choreographing for film will automatically let you know what to keep and what to throw away. However, editing choreography for the stage takes a lot of time and constantly allowing yourself to let go of ideas that you love.
Being on film demands you to be present and to give 100% of yourself, because that is a once in a lifetime moment. Whereas, dancing on stage you have the chance to dance the same choreography again, have a different intention for each performance, and different audiences to watch you. Both require you to be present and to give 100% of yourself, but dancing on camera you only got one shot to do that.
Michael Jackson is my main Artist inspiration!
His creativity, he created his own lane, the purpose behind his artistic work is amazing. He's a true humanitarian. His work ethic is the blueprint for most of today’s artist.
Michael Jackson Number Ones DVD
I would watch that DVD all the time as a teenager. Replaying the same song and studying the video. Not only the dance moves, but the acting, camera angles, costumes, and the overall production. My favorite Michael Jackson choreography music videos are:
Remember The Time
You Rock My World!
Thriller
Bad
Choreographing for the stage…music plays a role as well. I tend to create to different types of music to pull inspiration. As a composition concentration I learned how to not allow the music to dedicate your story, instead allow it to stand alone. Music has its own identity as well. So, trying to match the words or rhythm all the time can become annoying! So, I love creating movement the juxtaposes the music. I want the viewer to come up with their own perspective of my story. I love listening to people tell me what they took away from my piece.
Choreographing a story should be open to multi interpretations. That’s what I believe.
Dance is a spiritual awakening. When I dance that is the closest I get to connecting to my higher self-energy. Dance is a universal language that sends vibrational frequencies into the mover and the viewer. Dance is more than just physical movement. Dance is therapy and it will heal your body and mind.
Kyle Bisco aka KNOIR and his manager Ms. Banks called me and asked me to be the Director for his new single “Looking For Something” music video. Ms. Banks has always noticed my potential as a creative artist way before college. It really means a lot to me for Ms. Banks and Kyle Bisco to still believe in me after all of these years.
I post my artistic journey on my social media accounts so that my family and friends can stay updated on what I am doing. I assume that is why Ms. Banks and Kyle (KNOIR) Bisco made their decision to select me to be the Director for their “Looking For Something” music video.
8. What does the future hold for Kemba and her world of Dance and Filmmaking?
I remain open to the future opportunities to be a Director for another music video and to choreograph for another artist. KNOIR has asked me to continue to work with him as the Director for his upcoming music videos and I will definitely join him on his next creative projects.
I recently started my Reading with Kemba business which involves me reading children’s books. I will soon create dance content that relates to the books that I am reading, as a way to motivate children to read and to be creative.
- Where are you from?
I am from Prince Georges County, Maryland
2. Which schools have you attended?
Clara Muhammad Muslim School (Pre-K & Kindergarten)
Thomas G. Pullen Performing Arts Academy (5th grade-8th grade) = Music Major 6th-8th grade
Suitland High School (9th grade-12th grade)= Music Major 9th grade / Dance Major 10th-12th grade
Virginia Commonwealth University (1 yr.)= Major =Dance and Choreography
SUNY Purchase College (4yrs) Conservatory of Dance: Concentration in Composition & Minor in Arts Management
3. What did you major in and what activities did you enjoy the most?
SUNY Purchase
Conservatory of Dance
Major: DANCE
Concentration: Composition
Minor: Arts Management
- At what time in your life did you discover the magic of the world of Dance and Music?
At the age of 5, I started to discover the magic of Dance and Music. My mother enrolled me in The Davis Center dance school and the Levine School of music in Washington, DC. In 2001, I participated in my childhood church Talent Show by performing my choreography to CeCe Winans -The River bonus track for "The Prince of Egypt" movie.
“This is my first choreography showcase ever!" I presented my dance composition at Shiloh Baptist Church, Washington, "DC Children’s Day Talent Show," on June 8, 2001. I was seven years old.
I would practice my dance moves in the living room. Once I got on stage, I immediately started to feel nervous, but I kept going!
At that age, I loved to dance with my arms and I still do to this day. Plus, watching the DreamWorks "Prince of Egypt" (1998) movie as a child sparked my creative energy, which inspired me to dance to this beautiful song and planted the seed for me to blossom into a creative artist as I have gotten older.
At, the Levine School of music in Washington, DC I studied the Violin. Studying music plays a major part of my creativity as a director, choreographer, and dancer. Music education taught me the importance of learning all parts to a song, such as the melody and the harmony. After, you learn the overall idea you can then make creative changes, such as changing the key signature, the dynamics, and changing the songs pitch by playing different violin positions.
Also, growing up learning how to read music molded me to create choreography to complex musical compositions. I like dancing to music with layers, because I can see multi stories playing in my head simultaneously.
My Dad would always play Oldies music in the house. So, I have a true appreciation for real music composition, thoughtful lyrics, and the positive energy good music gives to the body and mind.
- What fascinates you about choreography in films and stage as it pertains to the expression of a story?
The movement of the camera in films is very important to me to see!
I took a class in college called Collaborative Video for Choreography taught by Professor Judy Lieff, that class trained my eye as a videographer and video editor.
The camera angles have the power to capture dance movement from multi angles.
You can play with the speed of the movement
You can tell a story from multi perspectives
I love how film alters the choreography:
To fit into the camera frame and or the location you are shooting.
Adapting the movement to the location
I learned this saying in college “If you don’t have something to throw away, then you have nothing worth keeping.”
Editing is so important! Not using footage or dance material that I really like can be nerve racking. However, the end goal is to make my storyline seamless. As a student, I learned how adding too much material can weaken the storyline and the intention. That is why it is good to not get too attached, but to remain open to changes.
At SUNY Purchase college, I was in a composition concentration. One of the major things I had to learn was to stop generating too much material. I learned choreographic devices to manipulate material into different ideas or perspectives. So, to the viewer it may look like a new idea. The movement vocabulary is the same, but the intention is different.
Choreographing for film will automatically let you know what to keep and what to throw away. However, editing choreography for the stage takes a lot of time and constantly allowing yourself to let go of ideas that you love.
Being on film demands you to be present and to give 100% of yourself, because that is a once in a lifetime moment. Whereas, dancing on stage you have the chance to dance the same choreography again, have a different intention for each performance, and different audiences to watch you. Both require you to be present and to give 100% of yourself, but dancing on camera you only got one shot to do that.
Michael Jackson is my main Artist inspiration!
His creativity, he created his own lane, the purpose behind his artistic work is amazing. He's a true humanitarian. His work ethic is the blueprint for most of today’s artist.
Michael Jackson Number Ones DVD
I would watch that DVD all the time as a teenager. Replaying the same song and studying the video. Not only the dance moves, but the acting, camera angles, costumes, and the overall production. My favorite Michael Jackson choreography music videos are:
Remember The Time
You Rock My World!
Thriller
Bad
Choreographing for the stage…music plays a role as well. I tend to create to different types of music to pull inspiration. As a composition concentration I learned how to not allow the music to dedicate your story, instead allow it to stand alone. Music has its own identity as well. So, trying to match the words or rhythm all the time can become annoying! So, I love creating movement the juxtaposes the music. I want the viewer to come up with their own perspective of my story. I love listening to people tell me what they took away from my piece.
Choreographing a story should be open to multi interpretations. That’s what I believe.
- What is your philosophy to the expression of Dance in general?
Dance is a spiritual awakening. When I dance that is the closest I get to connecting to my higher self-energy. Dance is a universal language that sends vibrational frequencies into the mover and the viewer. Dance is more than just physical movement. Dance is therapy and it will heal your body and mind.
- How did you plan out your first job as Director of Knoir's latest video "Looking For Something?"
Kyle Bisco aka KNOIR and his manager Ms. Banks called me and asked me to be the Director for his new single “Looking For Something” music video. Ms. Banks has always noticed my potential as a creative artist way before college. It really means a lot to me for Ms. Banks and Kyle Bisco to still believe in me after all of these years.
I post my artistic journey on my social media accounts so that my family and friends can stay updated on what I am doing. I assume that is why Ms. Banks and Kyle (KNOIR) Bisco made their decision to select me to be the Director for their “Looking For Something” music video.
8. What does the future hold for Kemba and her world of Dance and Filmmaking?
I remain open to the future opportunities to be a Director for another music video and to choreograph for another artist. KNOIR has asked me to continue to work with him as the Director for his upcoming music videos and I will definitely join him on his next creative projects.
I recently started my Reading with Kemba business which involves me reading children’s books. I will soon create dance content that relates to the books that I am reading, as a way to motivate children to read and to be creative.