30 Days Of NYMF: Day 12 Petrouchka

Petrouchka
Concept by Matthew Neff
Music by Michelangelo Sosnowitz
Directed and Choreographed by Matthew Neff
Some people know the original ballet. Other people can't pronounce the title. I was sitting in my college dance history class as the professor was talking about The Ballet Russe and their ballet Petrouchka. Something clicked. I spent the next 9 years scratching notes on paper to create a revised synopsis based off the original. I would make playlists of random songs I liked that reminded me of different sections of my new plot.

In 2009 I met an incredibly talented composer named Michelangelo Sosnowitz. I decided it was time to throw out my mixtape of songs and ask him to compose an all new score for the show that's been living in my head. We began our journey a year ago to create an audio landscape that leads a homeless man into a delusional trip to become The Barker of his own carnival. I would sit at my desk and listen to the show as we edited each section. With my headphones on I would close my eyes and his score would talk to me like each note was a word from my synopsis. I could see The Soldier, The Ballerina and Petrouchka all dancing in my head.

We entered it into NYMF after a friend (who also has a great show in NYMF this year) suggested I submit my materials. Somehow we ended up being the only all dance musical in the festival. On August 30th, I walked into a rehearsal studio at Manhattan Movement & Arts Center with a very large cast of amazing dancers, including Ron Todorowski and Ed Kresley. They sat and listened to me describe the journey we were about the go on. It was a surreal moment to see that my imagination had become a reality. I felt like the character of "The Barker" I had created. His journey doesn't end like he wanted but my journey with this show is only starting.

I wish I could keep this cast of dancers in my back pocket for every project I do in the future. They are all going to go on to great careers. I hope you get to see Petrouchka in NYMF this year for a rare glimpse into what the NYC dance scene has to offer. These aren't kids from a dance reality show. These are real dancers that make New York City the place that young dancers dream of.
-- Matthew Neff Creator/Director/Choreographer