"Do it my way!" Exploring the pain of collaboration are (clockwise from prone figure on left) Nico Muhly, Tim Whitelaw, Andrea Miller, Sebastian Gerhke, Rachel Tess, Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum (center body on floor), Michiko Isono, Cynthia Lee Wong (leg on floor), Adam Birnbaum (prone), Maria Zvosec, and Yin-Ling Yin. Photo by Susan Burkey

Another round of Composers and Choreographers is upon us, culminating in a program on the Wednesdays at One series in Alice Tully Hall on January 22. It promises to be, as always, very interesting. In order to enlighten our readers about the creative process of such pairings, The Juilliard Journal sent staff writer "Nasus Yekrub" to talk with the six composer/choreographers teams on the upcoming program.

Nasus: So, let's start with composer Cynthia Lee Wong and choreographer Sebastian Gehrke. What challenges were you faced with in an artistic endeavor of this nature?

Sebastian: The challenges… right. Well, first, we have to make sure we're on the same page. The composer must understand the choreographer's vision of the piece.

Nasus: And you conveyed your vision to Cynthia, how?

Sebastian: Let's say I opened her eyes.

Nasus: To the possibilities in your idea?

Sebastian: No, by pulling her eyebrows upward—rather severely, it's true, but look, it was necessary. My intentions were purely artistic.

Nasus: I… see.

Cynthia: And I did start to see his ideas more clearly—after… [massaging her eyebrows] after my eyesight ad… adjusted.

Nasus: I can imagine.

Sebastian: I mean, let's face it—Art is pain.

Nasus: At least for some.

Sebastian: It's true. What piece of art was made without causing pain for its creators? We have to expect some pain in the creative process as we give birth to a new work of art.

Cynthia: Yes… yes, pain. Through our collaboration, Sebastian has shown me the creative necessity of it.

Nasus: You mean, for you? Or both of you? Tell me, Sebastian, did you feel any of this "creative pain" during the process of creating the choreography?

Sebastian: I believe I overextended my toe once, and had to rest.

Cynthia: The word itself is so… so ob… objective.

Nasus: Forgive me, Cynthia, but I've noticed you have a slight stammer now. Are you all right?

Sebastian: [brushing Cynthia aside] A small side effect of collaboration. But who among us does not suffer for their art?

Nasus: You?

Sebastian: But appearances are deceiving. It caused much soul-searching, for my part, over just exactly how to convey my ideas to Cynthia.

Nasus: So you'd say it caused you some angst?

Sebastian: We don't want to delve into the nitty-gritty now.

Cynthia: We… we…

Sebastian: We should just say that the means always justify the ends.

Nasus: Don't you mean the end always justifies the means?

Sebastian: Are you trying to tell me what I mean?

Nasus: No! Purely a suggestion! Perhaps we should go on to another pair now. How about composer Adam Birnbaum and choreographer Michiko Isono. Adam, how did you feel?

Michiko: He didn't feel anything.

Nasus: You mean he didn't feel your artistic passion?

Michiko: No, I mean he didn't feel anything.

[Nasus looks puzzled.]

Michiko: When he hit the wall.

Nasus: Hit the wall? You mean artistically?

Michiko: No, I mean with his back. Forgive me [laughing], my English is not so good.

Adam: But her arm muscles are!

Michiko: What!?

Nasus: [Adam recoiling] So Michiko, in other words, you're saying you took the artistic lead?

Michiko: That's right. Dancer leads, composer follows.

Nasus: Hunched over, I guess.

Michiko: That's nothing compared to the aches and pains all dancers feel every day.

Nasus: It is a demanding field.

Michiko: Give me what I want. That's all I asked of him. Give me what I want. Simple, really.

Nasus: It sounds like it.

Adam: I…

Michiko: Interview over!

Nasus: All right. Well. I see Tim Whitelaw, the composition student from England, and his artistic partner, choreographer Andrea Miller.

Tim: 'Allo, Nasus!

Nasus: Well, you're very enthusiastic! That's nice to see. And speaking of seeing, I see you've got a black eye. How'd that happen?

Tim: It was purely an accident of reflexes. Didn't duck quite fast enough!

Andrea: I think what Tim means to say is that creativity is a reflexive process.

Tim: And I'm reflecting on 'ow we could use a little more fun around here, eh?!

Nasus: Humor can be refreshing! Have you used it in your piece, Tim?

Tim: Let's 'ave a song, then! [singing] When I was just a wee lad…. [loudly] I was never, ever sa…

Andrea: [clapping her hand over Tim's mouth] He's so full of… life that really, it was a pleasure to work with me—I mean him.

Tim: [breaking free] an' I was bad, bad, ba…[choking, spitting] wot's this, another tooth come loose! Nasus—look! [sticking his tongue through the hole where his tooth was] …Ah, well, who needs tha' many teeth anyway? They just get in the way o' your tongue!

Nasus: I've never looked at it that way before! Always good to be positive, Tim! Nice to see you two had fun collaborating! Well this brings us to our duo of composer Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum and choreographer Yin-Ling Yin. Nora, can you describe your working process?

Nora: Basically, I'd write some music every week and then show it to Yin-Ling.

Yin-Ling: Yes, and after seeing the score I was filled with… with indescribable… [wringing her hands] sensations.

Nasus: So Yin-Ling could follow your score, Nora. That's very helpful.

Nora: Yes… well, when she looked at the score and said, "We'll have to make some cuts here," I thought, of course, she meant in the score. I didn't think she meant on me! [brightening] But I'm healing nicely; it's almost a pattern…

Nasus: You could make it into a tattoo!

Nora: Yes! It has the potential! And you have to admire her technique!

Nasus: Good luck with it, then! Now let's get some comments from choreographer Marie Zvosec and composer Susan Burkey.

Susan: What's that sound? Is it your phone?

Marie: [to Nasus] She does that all the time, Nasus. She says her head's ringing—just ignore her. I do.

Nasus: Is she all right? When did it start?

Marie: Oh, who can say? With her, it's hard to tell! She's so… [tapping her forehead with her finger]… unusual, if you know what I mean.

Nasus: Composers. They have their peculiar habits, don't they?

Marie: Some more than others. But it's a cross you have to bear when you collaborate.

Nasus: Can you elaborate?

Marie: Are you questioning me?

Nasus: Well, yes. It is, after all, an interview.

Marie: Well there's my view, and...

Susan: Is that the fire alarm?

Marie: ...and there's her view. Do you see what I mean?

Nasus: I can't say I do.

Wednesdays at One: Composers & Choreographers Alice Tully Hall Wednesday, Jan. 22, 1 p.m. No tickets are required for this free event.

Susan: [interrupting] I didn't either! But after several blind-side drop kicks to the head, I started to see Marie's point of view! Although I did see it double at first! [laughing].

Nasus: That sounds… interesting!

Susan: Yes, it… what?

Nasus: Never mind—wasn't important.

Susan: I like kittys… Answer the phone!!

Marie: Lately, I think Susan needs a change. You know, maybe broaden her choices for the future?

Susan: Kitty…

Nasus: She seems to like cats! Maybe she'd be happy as a cat sitter? Always good to have something on the horizon! Oh, she's starting to wander away. Should we…?

Marie: Focus, Susan—focus! Here, go talk to Tim. That's right. There you go…. [leading Susan over to Tim and clasping their hands together]—[to Nasus] they'll keep each other busy!

Nasus: O.K.! And that brings us to our last pair, composer Nico Muhly and choreographer Rachel Tess. How are both of you?

Rachel: What do you mean by that?

Nico: We're fine! And I have to say, Rachel has opened me up to the possibilities in life—not just dance. This was the best experience for me! I loved it!

[Rachel is filing her nails]

Nico: I mean, I didn't quite understand at first about the need for punishment when I didn't write exactly what Rachel needed, but I started to like it—and now, wow!

Nasus: Started to like what?

Nico: The pain! The expressivity in the pain! Who knew?!!

[Rachel is brushing her hair]

Nico: Can I show you? I don't know if you're into this, but… [taking off shoes to reveal blistered soles of feet] See?! Want to feel them?

[Rachel is filing her nails]

Nasus: No… thank you.

I'd like to thank Pia Gilbert and Elizabeth Keen, who run the Composers/Choreographers program, for their kindness in granting this interview. I'd also like to thank all the participants, as it takes a secure artist to understand that, while you take your profession very seriously, you need not take yourself the same way. Especially since not one word of this article is true—except, of course, the concert date: January 22 at 1 p.m.

And I invite the composers and choreographers (or anyone else) to throw some satire my way, in hopes of creating a continuing column of such in the future. See you at the concert!

If we don't make fun of ourselves, others might. — Buddha

Nasus Yekrub, a.k.a. Susan Burkey, is a graduate diploma candidate in composition.