Interdisciplinary World-building (w/ Quaba Ernest)

After seeing a staging of his work-in-progress "Huis Clos," a dance performance with elements of spoken word, role playing, and storytelling, I had the pleasure of having a conversation with Quaba Venza Ernest about his interdisciplinary world-building, and the many facets that make up these worlds. Emotionally impacted by the piece, I was happy to get to know some of the early building blocks of the dance, and the plays that influenced it. With insight into the origin of Venza Dance, an interdisciplinary arts company centered in dance, his choreographing methods, and intent of staying far away from boxes as an artist, Quaba and I were able to dive a little deeper into the working hand of the subconscious through the artist and how our relatives, ancestors, and the artists we've grown up on inspire the art making and even infuse themselves into our stories, with or without our awareness.While music, or rhythm, is the one body that weaves different practices together (dance, poetry, instrumentation, singing), Quaba gives insight into his and his family's history with music and how the thread has led to Ernest Records, a recording studio and production company in Brooklyn, NY, which holds space for musicians and poets to share from the depths of their souls, with open reception and caring attention.