Say It: They Said Be Cool
Our next Choreographer Q&A with Brandon Ramey focuses on his Say It piece, They Said Be Cool. Read about our time with Brandon where we discuss the editing process, the upcoming election and his fellow dancer’s Say It performances. Be sure to tune in October 22nd at 7pm CST for his debut of They Said Be Cool.
Our Choreographer Q&A with Brandon Ramey:
How have you been staying connected to dance and how has that contributed to your Say It debut?
I wouldn’t have had the confidence going into this Say It performance if I hadn’t had that experience this summer making silly dance videos about quarantine. Getting our toes wet with those projects allowed us to figure out the video editing process and better understand how to take something three dimensional and then portray it two-dimensionally is a very different animal.
What are you most proud of in your performance?
I did a lot of editing tricks I learned by watching YouTube tutorials. It was a humbling but rewarding process! Even with all the extra work, I’m most proud of the dancer’s hard work and execution. They’re amazing and it’s easy to see during the performance.
It’s awesome to see other dancers try something new with choreography, filming and editing during our virtual season. It’s a great time to transition into this and share content from different perspectives. We're telling stories in new ways.
How was it collaborating with The City Fathers on the music?
It’s incredible to have talented musicians come to you with content to work with. That’s rare to come by, so to get the chance to use their music made that part of the process that much better. I named my piece after their song They Said Be Cool, so without their contribution, it just wouldn’t have been the same.
What do you want viewers to take away from your performance of They Said Be Cool?
As we near the election, I want viewers to feel motivated. My piece is a call to action. I want them to ask themselves who they’re voting for and is that motivated by love or fear, compassion or greed. It is a privilege to exercise our right to vote, so I hope everyone takes advantage of that opportunity this election season.
What has it been like watching your fellow artists develop and release their Say It films?
Each of us has created such unique pieces based on personal experiences and interests. Whether lighthearted or more serious, it’s awesome to see other dancers try something new with choreography, filming and editing during our virtual season. It’s a great time to transition into this and share content from different perspectives. We're telling stories in new ways.
