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Arts & Entertainment

Production Notes: A Choreographer's Life

Devon La Russa started dancing when she was 2 and never stopped, enjoying a a career that has spanned classical ballet, flamenco, and now musical theatre, with a gig choreographing CCMT's production of "Rent," opening this weekend at the

Having been born with a passion for dancing (my mom swears I was doing Grand Jetes while still inside her), my dance journey began at the age of 2 in Chicago.

My teacher didn't usually allow kids to begin until they were 4, but my sister was taking classes and I would be in the waiting room dancing the whole time.  

I guess I annoyed enough people with my spinning and dance attempts that they let me join the class.  I continued non-stop dancing through many moves, from  Florida to Arizona to California.  

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At the age of 12 I was asked to join the Oakland Ballet as an apprentice.  I danced with them for 11 years during which time I became a company member and had the honor of performing many works by world famous choreographers.  

A personal favorite through the years, and continues to be, dancing choreographies by Michael Lowe.  At the age of 16, I added to my repertoire the complicated and passionate dance form, Flamenco, immediately loving the challenge it presented, so different from the almost ethereal feeling of ballet.  

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Joining the incredible choreographer and teacher, Emmy Award-winning Yaelisa, has been a flamenco dream come true.  In 2001, I joined Moving Arts Dance Company and in 2008 became the Assistant Director as well as continuing to dance.  

I have had the amazing experience of touring with them all over the world: Belarus, Scotland, Poland, Germany, France and Hawaii.  During this time I also managed to squeeze in dancing in the Matrix II and III movies, as well as a Carlos Santana music video.  As if dancing flamenco, contemporary, and modern wasn't  enough, in 2008 I added musical theater to my repertoire. 

The first theatre productions I did were Will Roger's Follies with the Diablo Theatre Company and Evita with the Contra Costa Musical Theatre.

I have been attending productions by CCMT since I moved to the Bay Area at the age of 4, so to perform and choreograph for them is a huge honor!  

The Assistant Stage Manager for Evita was Jasen Jeffrey. A few months later I was asked to perform in The Magic of Merlin with the Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble (I attended every show when I was a kid), and one of the actors in the show was Jasen.  

Through all the rehearsals and performances of the show, I guess  Jasen saw something in me that made him believe I had the potential to be a choreographer.  When he was named the Director of Rent, I got the call.   

The power of Rent is how real and touching the lyrics and story are.  In talking to Jasen, the thing he stressed as being the most important was that everything ring true, which was exactly how I wanted to approach the choreographic process.  

I want the choreography to add to the realism of the show, to add texture and layers to the story.  Though the actors are doing dance steps throughout, it should look like natural/spontaneous movement rather than "OK, now it's time to dance."  This musical is different from just about any other in both its subject matter as well as its ability to get to the reality of life.  

If the performers feel unnatural or uncomfortable with anything they're performing I ask them to let me know since it will come across on stage. Everything they're doing should feel like something a person would do in a real situation.  In the end, if the audience comes away feeling moved on a deep, profound level,then we have all succeeded.

CCMT's RENT opens tonight and runs through September 4. Tickets for RENT are on sale now at the Lesher Center for the Arts Ticket Office, 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek, 925.943.SHOW (943-7469). Tickets can also be purchased online at www.lesherartscenter.org.   

 

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