Today we’d like to introduce you to Genna Moroni.
Genna, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I went to the LA County High School for the Arts before attending UCLA where I majored in World Arts and Cultures, dance concentration, and a minor in Visual and Performing Arts Education. Despite all my training and education, it was only when I attended an intensive at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance that I found the type of dance that changed my life… the “Gaga” Movement Language. After a month studying Gaga at the conservatory, I left feeling that I must learn as much about it as possible! With a lot of help from my family, I flew to Tel Aviv, Israel to attend Batsheva Dance Company’s “Gaga” intensive lead by Artistic Director Ohad Naharin (Gaga is his movement language).
Flying back-and-forth to Tel Aviv twice in one year to attend both the winter and summer courses was intense, but it was so addictive! The courses were significantly challenging and informing my movement qualities and impulses in a way that I had never experienced before. My idea about my future in dance changed when I saw Batsheva perform in Israel. For the first time, I saw bodies on stage more similar to mine, muscular, curvy, various heights and individuals all moving together somehow. For the first time, the dancers were highlighted for their wildness and individuality on stage. I knew I needed to find a company in America with these priorities.
I was lucky when I met Danielle Agami. She had danced in Batsheva for about eight years before relocating to the USA to start her own company. Upon attending her workshop in Seattle, I was invited to join her new dance company, “Ate9,” as a founding member in 2012.
While part of Ate9, I found myself changing, growing and learning every day. It was so exciting, overwhelming, challenging and amazing. During my time with Ate9, I went on to achieve so many of my childhood dreams. I toured both nationally and internationally and performed at institutions I never thought I would, such as Royce Hall in LA, The Joyce Theater in NYC, Jacob’s Pillow Festival in Massachusetts and even at Diana Vishneva’s Context Festival in Moscow, Russia. It was quite a ride!!
Along with my dedication to dancing professionally, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to pursue and receive my independent Gaga Teacher Certification. I’m still amazed to believe that today I am part of the small pool of people in the world who hold a certification in the language.
After five years exclusively with Ate9, I felt ready to begin creating my own work. I started to dabble in choreographing music videos and light movement coaching for singers/actors and even found myself collaborating to invent/choreograph a full set for indie pop singer Jarina De Marco. The more I engaged in the world of music and multimedia, I could feel a new passion igniting inside of me.
In this new path, I am so grateful to have connected with Teresa “Toogie” Barcelo. She has been an amazing mentor. I was lucky to assist her for Dua Lipa’s performance at the 2018 American Music Awards, to both dance in and assist her for Dua Lipa’s “Swan Song” music video and more recently we worked together using motion capture to embody the native flowers of Australia in a work commissioned by the Sydney Opera House, directed by Andrew Thomas Huang and scored by Kelsey Lu.
I feel fortunate that at age 28, I have experienced a fulfilling seven year career in concert dance exclusively. I learned so much from the experience in regards to professionalism, developing my personal artistry, learning how to teach, the many ways to create, how to revel in the triumphs and how to grow from the failures. Being an artist (dancer, choreographer, teacher, etc.) is an extremely humbling profession where I constantly strive to be a better version of myself. I’m never too experienced to learn from those around me, both older and younger because the moment you stop being a student, you stop growing.
I am grateful to be a dancer, teacher, and choreographer. I am excited to see where my path and passions will take me next. I am looking forward to collaborating and mixing medias much more in the future!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I wish I could say my career in dance was a no brainer and without resistance or difficulty, but my journey had MANY struggles along the way. When I reflect, I find the majority of my struggles came from my craving for validation and insecurities about feeling unworthy. What I’ve learned along the way is any day can be your last for a hundred reasons. I still suffer from those same debilitating struggles of self-doubt, but a career in the arts, especially dance, is one of resilience and hard work.
Every day is a new mountain to climb and the challenges will always be there… it’s just a matter of how to put everything into perspective.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I wear many hats. I am a dancer, choreographer, movement director/coach, and teacher.
I am proud of my ability to layer my experiences to help guide me and give me confidence as I meet and work with new people in unfamiliar experiences. I am always eager for a challenge and love growing with each new project as I am developing my distinct artistic voice.
If I were to set myself apart from others, I would say it’s my passion and interest to challenge the viewer’s understanding and expectation of sensuality in movement. I enjoy distorting typical forms/shapes and turning something that might be seen as weird into something that is intriguing.. especially redefining what feminine movement can encompass.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over… I would dare to believe in myself more and let the voices that caused me insecurity to resonate at a much lower level and hold much less importance.
Contact Info:
- Website: gennamoroni.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @minimoroni
Image Credit:
John Camino, Jacob Jonas, Jake Lanza
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