LA POPS UP LAUNCH
Showcasing LA’s most influential independent choreographers
Spearheaded by Kitty McNamee & Kelly Hargraves
Hysteria Productions | Dance Camera West
Words by Katie Celia
With its debut finally here, LA POPS UP launches at Moving Body Festival 2024!
This groundbreaking new project spearheaded by Kitty McNamee (Hysterica Productions) and Kelly Hargraves (Dance Camera West), will showcase the personal visions of over 30 of Los Angeles’ most influential choreographers, providing a platform for these artists to showcase their raw, disruptive, and authentic work.
Flipping the existing narrative, LA POPS UP promises to be an unforgettable experience, highlighting the pulse of LA’s artistic heartbeat.
What To Expect
LA POPS UP was born from desire to celebrate the creativity and individuality of LA’s influential choreographers, showcasing their independent dance films globally. Many of these creatives have worked behind the scenes on major film, TV, and music projects, from iconic shows like Euphoria and Pose, to artists such as Rihanna, Björk, and The Weeknd. The commercial success of these works, however, too often overshadows the personal artistry of the choreographers involved - and this project is here to challenge that.
The eclectic lineup at LA POPS UP celebrates a vibrant mix of styles, spanning contemporary, hip-hop, poppin’, jazz, bharatanatyam, and more, reflecting the multicultural social fabric of LA. This dynamic event provides a platform for raw, disruptive, and authentic artistry, offering both emerging and established creators a chance to push boundaries and showcase their work in a unique, immersive setting.
Featured artists include visionaries such as Tony Testa, Nina McNeely, Mike Tyus, and Derion Loman, along with many others who are shaping the future of performance art. Among the films being showcased is Liquid Light, a mesmerising collaboration between internationally acclaimed visual artist Lita Albuquerque and her daughter, the celebrated dancer and choreographer Jasmine Albuquerque.
“The work being created by the dance artists here is revolutionary, and LA POPS UP is our way of sharing it globally.”
The People Behind the Project
Founder of Hysterica Productions, Kitty McNamee is a visionary artist, choreographer, and collaborator, renowned for her originality and innovative direction across all her work. Her dance films have been featured in over 50 festivals worldwide, and she enjoys a long-standing creative partnership with the LA Philharmonic, where she has choreographed and directed numerous productions, including works by Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Wing on Wing, Rite of Spring, The Firebird, Ellington/Nutcracker with Gustavo Dudamel and many more.
This year, McNamee’s bold creativity converges with the multi-talented, dance film curator and creator, Kelly Hargraves at Dance Camera West (DCW), an organisation dedicated to fostering the creation and distribution of dance films. Through its annual international festival held across iconic Los Angeles venues, DCW brings dance off the stage and onto the screen, using the language of film to engage broader audiences.
“We wanted to flip the narrative,” says McNamee. “Instead of bringing the world’s films to LA, we’re bringing LA’s films to the world. The work being created by the dance artists here is revolutionary, and LA POPS UP is our way of sharing it globally.” Hargraves echoes this excitement adding: “Dance Camera West is excited to partner with Hysterica, a groundbreaking force for dance in Los Angeles, to showcase esteemed LA choreographers to a wider audience as part of our ongoing mission to present international filmmakers in LA.”
LA POPS UP is set to expand internationally, with upcoming screenings in Budapest and London, as well as future events planned across LA. Expect exceptional dance film screenings and thought-provoking Q&A sessions, creating a rich dialogue between artists and audiences, that you don’t want to miss!