Conversations with Kendal Villa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendal Villa.

Hi Kendal, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My career as a performing artist, choreographer, and director has been influenced by my hardworking family that has invoked both passion and grit into how I live my life as well as pursue my dreams. As a proud second-generation Mexican-American from Orange County, CA, my network of friends and colleagues consist of both artists and athletes that have seen how I infuse my Latin heritage into my movement style. My passion travels across multiple mediums, and I love creating opportunities for myself and others to share our experiences through live dance performances, music, and film production. By combining athleticism and grace with my training in tennis, music and dance, my practice has led me to work with filmmakers from UCI, USC, UCLA and Chapman University on music videos, dance films, and conceptual videos in front of as well as behind the camera.

Dance and music have been driving influences throughout my life and the way I have intertwined both into my artistic endeavors these past years have opened doors for further creative freedom and opportunities. My grandfather was a mariachi and my family always shared their love of jazz in my youth. I co-founded Jazz Co-Lab at the University of California, Irvine where jazz musicians and dancers had a space to explore the beauty of improvisation. As a recent graduate from UCI, I aspire to blend my movement and musical passions into my choreography as well as put on installations to keep live art alive. Singing has also been a big love of mine since I was young and I loved participating in the musicals and competition choir in my school district.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve had wins and losses over the past year, including familial loss. While I am at a stage in my life where my options are limitless, I intentionally surround myself with people that uplift others because keeping my circle close has become a strength in how I act in life and my art. The people I have built relationships with over the years in my personal life inspire my will to continue bringing the stories to life on the stage and screen. I am building a life that incorporates all mediums of art and will strive to be in and create spaces that all artists thrive in.

What I have noticed over the years is the negative and manipulative behavior infecting the work and aspirations of individuals and tears people apart. There have been recent passings within the dance community and their presence and energy will forever have a lasting impact on our hearts. When I feel down, I try my best to check in on someone because I’ve grown to understand we do not always share our toughest conflicts and try to fight them alone. Specifically within the dance and entertainment circuit, comparison and competition are topics discussed, but there are so many internal struggles that people are managing, so it is important to me that I bring compassion and a listening ear to the rooms I step in.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
All of my closest friends are artists in some shape or form, and it is our various disciplines that makes me excited because we are constantly learning from one another, which strengthens my own versatility. I have been teaching and choreographing for workshops and classes at various dance studios and high schools across Orange County consisting of technique development, choreographing pieces, and unboxing stylistic individuality with improvisation. I make it a priority to motivate my students in their training so that they can apply practical skills to their artistry and livelihood – dance is an artform that can truly bring out the best version of oneself. As my dance career progresses, I want my role as an educator to be impactful for the younger and older students to view the performing arts as a necessity and positive addition to their lives.

The most recent dance performance I participated in was a 15 minute piece at the American Dance Festival and was heavily inspired by the censorship coming from the federal government’s banned word list. More than 250 words and phrases are being scrubbed from documents and government websites, such as “Hispanic”, “women”, “climate change”, and “lgbt”. Choreographed by Vincent E. Thomas in collaboration with the cast, we spent three weeks deep in research and curated an immersive piece about how our freedom of speech is actively being stripped away. Having the experience of being surrounded by fellow dancers, choreographers, the projectionist, composer, set and costume designers made the performance so much more meaningful and added a sense of urgency for the audience to take action. There are so many gems who are chasing their dreams, so kindness and genuine connectivity to reach audiences and colleagues on a deeper level enhances the worldbuilding I want to create in my choreographic process and dance performance.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
The next chapter of my life will consist of commercial dance and Broadway auditions, diving into more of my filmmaker aspirations, writing more original music, and producing more of my own choreography for live shows and music videos. With 20 years of experience in tap, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, ballet, improvisation and lyrical, I also practice heels, modern, and Ballet Folklórico. I have performed in pieces by MaryAnn Chavez, Vincent E. Thomas, KZGirl, Nicole “Fox” Davis, Dr. S Ama Wray, Cyrian Reed, and Chad Michael Hall. My choreographic work includes stage performances, dance visuals, films, documentaries, intermedia installations, and music videos. Recent accomplishments include my song “Through to You (Don’t Feel It)” being signed as well as accumulating festival selections from The American Pavilion, 20th Cyprus International Film Festival, Palm Springs International Short Fest, Seattle International Film Festival, and HollyShorts Film Festival.

Pricing:

• Choreography Hourly Rate: $85
• Class Hourly Rate: $75
• Movement Director or Dancer Rate: Contact for more info

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thekendalvilla5.wixsite.com/kendal-villa
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kendal__villa/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z–G-wZ9zWM
• Other: https://linktr.ee/whoopieee

Image Credits
Gil Flores, Guramrit S Malhotra, Robin, Alex Gonzalez, Ashley Cook, Sam Zauscher