We caught up with Jamaal for a few quick questions amongst rehearsals for the upcoming NACA Showcase.
How did you hear about the New Adventures Choreographer Award (NACA) and what encouraged you to apply?
I had heard about NACA when I was still a student at Northern School of Contemporary Dance, James Cousins had such great success after winning the award in 2011/12 and John Ross (2013/14 winner) was working with Verve in Leeds in preparation for his showcase. By the time the next application was released in 2015 I was excited about applying and felt that I finally had enough work in my locker to showcase myself to the judges.
What advice would you give to those looking to apply to be our next NACA winner in 2017?
As corny as it sounds, being true to yourself. I think very often choreographers and artists tailor their applications and responses to fit the organisation they are applying to in the hope of gaining success. But with NACA I never felt I had to sacrifice myself or my vision to get points in the application process, I felt like I was encouraged to be honest and genuine about who I was and what I wanted to achieve.
Could you summarise what audiences can expect to see next month in just 3 words?
Music, storytelling and energy.
The NACA Showcase will be at The Platform Theatre, London from 21-24 September 2016, with a triple bill of world premieres. Have you got your tickets yet? Click here to find out more and to book your tickets now!
