You can catch Enforced Arch Founder, James Koroni, in Robert DeLong's new music video on MTV.com with Emma Rojas and Genna Baroni! So honored to have danced for choreographer Celia Rowlson-Hall, directors Charles Alan Whitcher and Sam Stephens. I love the makeup artist, Heidi Callaway!
Respect My Step is a new social media network that expands the dance community to a global scale. It is a simple yet effective concept. Each dancer is asked to submit one minute of movement that expresses their unique voice, say their name and end with "Respect My Step". All they ask is that you be creative with a camera in a imaginative location and move. It helps to watch the already existing videos, give them respect and then build upon the collection of work.
Enforced Arch founder, James Koroni recently submitted a video to Respect My Step which is currently featured on the front page. Check it out and if you like what you see simply click Respect My Step and show some support. Here's the LINK!
Who started this project? About Respect My Step's creative directors:
The idea began to brew when an unlikely duo of choreographer, Jermaine Browne, and technologist, Edgardo Burgos, began to discuss the future of dance as well as advancements in technology.
“I wanted to give dance a bigger voice.” said Jermaine. “Get it to a larger audience and put a name to the nameless faces who share a passion for dance. A place to bring everyone together.”
“Technology affects every sector in life and culture,” continued Edgardo, “so I started thinking about how the dance community was affected. How can technology embrace the dance community?”
Together, they learned about each others fields, discovered and explored possibilities to make their vision come true, and created the perfect synergy of technology and dance. With a name like Respect My Step - everyone can relate. Jermaine explains: “Peoples passions are a part of them and they shouldn’t be judged for what they enjoy to do. You are who you are and you should be respected for that.”
For more information visit Respect My Step!
I'll never see what you wanted... love The earth created life for unknown reasons but life is positive and the only known reason is “love.”
I was the hell that you needed... oh Our existing assumptions for life lead to the planets very downfall. We exploit natural resources and deplete the planet of what life bearing properties it had.
I was the one when you needed love I was the one when you needed love Finally the earth speaks up but not to destroy us. The earth repeatedly sends signs that only conscientious love & compassion for the earth will sustain life. A cycle of outcries in the form of natural disasters, war, famine & global warming communicates that we will return to our “mother” whether it be through tender love or instant death. We are dependent and yet, ignorant of our downfall. We need to re-identify with our “creator” or our life support and respect it’s wishes before we fulfill our own. Either way will sacrifice something. What’s worth more, Strife or Life?
song: 'Be the One' BY MOBY
choreography: JAMES KORONI TRACEY KATOF
dancers: JAMES KORONI LAUREN COX SCOTT HAMILTON TRACEY KATOF
video production: JOSHUA KATCHER perhapsmedia.net/
I met talented 'Mover,' Tracey Katof shortly after she had the opportunity to dance and choreograph for comedian, Rebecca Drysdale, on a music video called "It Gets Better." In a short interview with her, this is what she had to say:
Q. Why do you dance?
A. Language barriers exist between communities worldwide. I choose dance as my form of communication and self expression because I feel speaking through movement is the natural global language. Even the most simple movements, such as a smile or a frown, can be understood regardless of where someone comes from or what language they speak. I dance to promote efforts of human welfare and social reform. If I can spark an emotion or idea in an audience member that leads to a positive change, then I have accomplished my goal.
Q. How does this influence your dancing? A. My dancing is driven by my devotion to a cause and a desire to express truth. In addition, I hope that my body and movement can serve as a vessel for social change and awareness. In a sense, I dance to be larger than myself.
Q. Tell me about your experiences with "It Gets Better." A. Working with Comedian Rebecca Drysdale was a fulfilling experience. She put forth an immeasurable amount of time and effort into creating her vision. I thought it was an innovative idea to produce a music video and use humor to get the message across and to reach a large audience. Through the Internet and social media, the video has already been viewed 100,000 times in just 2 weeks!
Q. How has dancing for this social issue enriched your life as an artist? A. From choreographing for humanitarian causes, I have learned that no matter how foreign the topic is to me, I can always relate. That is what I want for the audience as well. I am not a part of the LGBT community, yet I have related to the pain caused by feeling different and being teased. The "It Gets Better" campaign is about accepting each other for who we are. I support this project because I want to spread the message that even in the most disheartening situations, there is always hope.
Tracey was the first to tell me about "It Gets Better." After I watched it for the first time I thought, I wish this was around when I was 14 so I didn't have to watch "Undressed" on MTV to feel normal! I recall being afraid to simply think thoughts of homosexuality, for fear that I would be, "condemned to hell." Add any level of physical, mental or emotional abuse to that kind of existence and it would be very difficult to know what I know now, which is, IT'S SOOO MUCH BETTER! This campaign has become a worldwide movement and is helping troubled teens look to a brighter side. For this I thank Tracey for lending her talents in Rebecca Drysdale's video. 
Tracey is committed to many social issues. I'd love to share them all with you now but I look forward to seeing how she plans to illustrate them herself! Keep up with Tracey Katof's moves here:
