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Mēsha Kussman
  • About
  • DIRECTING + CHOREOGRAPHY
  • Projects
  • Press
  • Contact
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Madness of Love - is a musical feature film told entirely in rhyme and based on Plato’s Phaedrus. Originally commissioned as a staged play by the Getty Villa, this dialogue on the topic of love, is a collaboration with rappers the Q Brothers.


corp
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Drill march (drill corp) movement, with its simulated rifle work & synchronized marching is fantastically precise and beautiful but hasn’t yet been seen outside of the military and cult following. Corp - is a short film that combines this masculine and aggressive technique with the more emotive style of contemporary dance to explore themes of changing masculinity, war and combat. Features 1-20 performers.


Hanger
Denna Thompson

Inspired by and featuring Jimmy Hendrix’ gut wrenching feedback laced electric guitar solo improvisation of the National Anthem from Woodstock, The Anthem - is a dance film shot in an empty airplane hanger which intercuts solos of some of today’s most original dancers as they use their bodies to put the divisive national experience on display. Is the land of the brave brave enough to survive our internal conflicts?


Dancing in the Street

Places inspire me. David Hockney’s Swimming pool at the Hollywood Roosevelt for example became a set for my first L.A. based water show. Working in conjunction with cities, my hope is to create Attractions - a series of tourism ’musicals’ that use movement and dance to showcase the landscapes and attractions. What better way to invite people to the wonders of Santa Monica than a parade on the Pier… a breakdance on the Expo Line… a ballet on the beaches. Open to collaboration with Marina Del Rey, Manhattan Beach, DTLA or any of a series of tourist attractions. 


One Culver

I’ve been working with my Emmy Award winning composer Joel Goodman to curate an evening of new orchestral works to accompany original short films. The event is currently planning to be hosted at One Culver to benefit a charity. (more)


Visitors

The sun sets over Venice Skatepark and in the darkness, the voluptuous waves of cement come to life with light. Seething fire from the Big Bang up to the rising ocean levels of today. This augmented reality landscape created with projection mapping Visitors - is an immersive technology installation designed to put visuals to our planet’s peril. But the skaters dive bombing the scene will remind us that solutions in crisis only come through appreciation, and playful invention - a reminder that we’re all just visitors here. [The event will be accompanied by a virtual kiosk engaging participants in new ways to combat climate change].


Cake Installation VR

I’ve spent the last year working with Stufish (concert designers for Madonna, Lady Gaga and U2) to create my own original invention - a 9 foot tall white and gold cake. And from inside the cake, 12 dancers emerge and transform it, breaking it apart and reforming it into an Art Deco Bandshell. CAKE - is a totally encompassing VR experience that takes us for a ride through era after era of what it means to be sexy and empowered as a woman.


Directing Samples

I directed + edited this show sample of the live version of Cake - a land offering by my water entertainment company Aqualillies.

In the desert, two futuristic motorcycle-riding nymphs find an aquatic portal and pass through it to another universe. Music: Bassnectar feat. Mimi Page, DP: Morgan Schmidt, Drones: Spark Aerial, Social-Pool Public Art Installation: Alfredo Barsuglia (in collaboration with MAK Center for Art & Architecture).

A high concept short film (Cannes Short Film Corner) that exposes our human desire to win, even at the expense of love. Performers I Co-Choreographers - Mayte Valdes + Carlos Barrionuevo; DP - Jon Pears; Music - Abel Korzeniowski + Ara Malikian

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