Marcela Michelle
What is it that you do?
"I am a transdisciplinary artist, which for me means that I try to work holistically among artistic disciplines to create work that is richly layered and feels distinctly of me. Sometimes I direct the work of others, which is more about being a sort of conduit for their story or a kind of a meeting guide between them and the audience. Sometimes I dance or act in the work of others, which is more like translation maybe. Sometimes I provide feedback, consultation, or mentorship, which I approach as an artist, and is more of a triangular puzzle in the vein of thinking about what might be helpful for another artist to hear. But I’m always bringing all of that experience from all of those different mediums and fields to whatever it is that I’m working on. Mostly now I make works of a wide range of durations where it is likely I will do most if not all of the following: write, compose, direct, design, choreograph, construct, cook, perform."
Photo: @awamally
"The benefits of being a trans artist I think are that I have an inherently intimate understanding of transition, of the temporariness of things we hold as infallible. A change of approach, of ideology, of feeling or thought or body, is so accessible to me. Trans artists know something so powerful about tenability, about drastic measures, about self love."
Good Evening, My Name is (G.E.M.N.I)
Written, Directed, Choreographed, Filmed, and Edited by Marcela Michelle. Featuring Qamar Yochanan Yoni Tamang and Kat Purcell
Describe your work.
"My work tends to deal with simultaneity, mutability, a kind of foiling of the self in performance, false starts, expectations, improvisation. I deal in abstraction a lot, I’m drawn towards queer theory, performance theory, the absurd, and some kind of translating of experience more so than a direct telling. RIght now I’m trying to figure out how to incorporate my culinary work more fully into my composition and performance work."
Important elements?
"Humor. I think people are often surprised at how funny my work can be. Burlesque and Cabaret arts have had a big impact on me, so concepts of tease, of reveal, of wink and nod are hugely important to me. Surprise is key. I tend to be pretty specific about how I engage with the architecture as well, there’s always something venue specific about my work. I tend to make a lot of things and then decide once I’m in the space what the actual structure is, what pieces stay and go."
Present Stars
Contemporary Dance work from transdisciplinary artist Marcela Michelle Mni Sota Makoce,
November 2021 Presented by Walker Art Center Choreographer's Evening 2021
Curated by Valerie Oliveiro Original Song by Marcela Michelle Costume Design and Construction by Marcela Michelle
Performed by Marcela Michelle and J H Shui Xian Special thanks to MOVO Space in Minneapolis for rehearsal support.
What are you working on in 2023?
"I was just named a Jerome Hill Artist Fellow, and Lightning Rod, the arts organization I run with my dear friend and collaborator Keila Anali Saucedo, is also in a time of unique opportunity and transition, so 2023 is an exciting year for me. In addition to all the fun programming coming for the company, I’m working on quite a bit myself, including a new evening length contemporary performance. I do have a working title, Watermelon Souffle. There will be lots of props and tricks and some new technical elements, it will be messy, and I’m very excited about the collaborators who have so graciously agreed to work with me on the project.
There’s a multimedia activated installation I’ve been sitting on for years that is finally coming together as well. I’m developing a new workshop series on performance behaviors. I recently wrote a cocktail menu for a bar that ended up closing so don’t be surprised if you see me mixing drinks in a theater lobby near you. And I’m working on a new adaptation of Genet’s The Maids. Some of it will be presented in workshops and sharings this year, and some of it you probably won't see until 2024 or 2025."