Interview: Marshall Ellis of ME Dance on his Company & SERENITY

Marshall Ellis founder ME Dance is no stranger to the Orlando dance scene. As a performer and choreographer turned entrepreneur, Marshall's life is filled with music, creativity and of course a little bit of chaos. ME Dance's newest production SERENITY illustrates those moments of noise and of peace.

Though the company officially formed in 2011, ME Dance opened its official performance space last year. To me Marshall and his dance group are a new and delightful discovery in the Orlando arts scene. Marshall took some time to talk with BroadwayWorld about his show and about ME Dance.

Hi Marshall. It was great meeting you the other day at the preview for your new dance show SERENITY. Tell us where the idea of Serenity came from? Was there a single moment where the thought clicked and you said this is what I'm going to choreograph around?

The idea of Serenity came from the amount of anxiety that I began to experience shortly after opening two new businesses in just one year, the Marshall Ellis Dance School and the Marshall Ellis Theatre, and also creating ME Dance, Inc. only a short time before that. It was all very exciting, but very stressful too. After reading about anxiety disorder and talking to people more about the stresses of their life, I realized a lot of people suffer from this. A lot of it is stemmed from lifestyle, work, relationships, money and even the media. This inspired me to produce a show that acted as a sort of "how to live your life in a serene manner" guide.

What inspires you when you're in a slump and where do you find your inspiration?

I pull inspiration from my past experiences. Whether the experience was good or bad, I feel that everything happens for a reason. I try to explore new ideas and look at the bigger picture. I never like to settle. I like to continue to challenge myself as an artist.

What do you hope audiences take away from this production?

I love to inspire people. Past patrons have commented that they were touched or moved by the productions, and that is my primary goal. I use dance as a medium to tell a story. I challenge each of my dancers to their highest technical ability to give the audience an emotion, a story and to educate them on the possibilities of dance through various styles and the hard work it requires. I want people to appreciate dance as an art form.

How does your dance experience blend with the job of being an artistic director? Do your dancers have input in the choreography?

I have many years of experience that I pull from on a daily basis. I have worked with amazing artistic directors in the past. The creation process is my second favorite to performance. Being an artistic director is challenging because you know what the bigger picture is going to be, and expressing it into words has always been a challenge for me. That is why I chose to be a dancer.

In the studio, I use each dancer's strengths. I choreograph to make them look good and to continue to challenge them as artists. I always listen to the dancers' specific needs and either adjust as necessary or teach them how to improve.

You choreographed a majority of SERENITY so every piece is probably significant, but is there any piece in particular that stands out as your favorite? Why?

Yes. I love every piece very much because it came from my own heart and mind. However, I have two works that stand out to me most: Bliss and Focus. I like Bliss because I love to be happy, and happiness is always the hardest thing to find in life. I like Focus because without it, you cannot find happiness. People sometimes are blinded by what happiness is, but to me, just dancing is pure 'bliss.'

How much does a piece change from the beginning of the creative process to the end? Is it ever truly a finished piece?

Honestly, a piece changes very little from inception to completion. Normally the first thing I choreograph is exactly what I want. I only ever change steps if they are not working for the piece or I decide that I hate it after seeing it. I am the type of artist that creates the work and then watches it evolve. The dancers are amazing at making it their own with my guidance.

Your dance background is very diverse. What qualities do you look for in a performer who is auditioning for you?

I love a strong foundation and someone who has a passion for dance. Each of the dancers in ME Dance are different. I love that. I am not interested in a cookie cutter company. I would rather focus on great dancing.

What is unique about ME Dance that sets it aside from other dance companies in Orlando?

Something different about ME Dance is that I, the board members and the staff receive NO compensation. We are a nonprofit, and all the money raised or earned goes directly to the company dancers and to the production needs. ME Dance is very much like a family. We support each other and help each other out. The environment is non-judgmental and we strive to keep a professional atmosphere.

I do not tolerate negativity that will hold back another artist. I only believe in helping everyone and guiding each artist in the right direction.

You've accomplished so much in such a small amount of time. Where do you want or see ME Dance to be in the next five to ten years?

Within the next five years, I want to see ME Dance be even stronger than it is now. We already have amazing and talented artists, we just need more funding. I hope to become more financially sound in the years to come and be able to compensate the artists as they should be compensated.

Thank you and best of luck!

ME Dance's upcoming production SERENITY runs October 16, 17, 18, 2015 at 8:30pm. For tickets and more information visit http://medance.org. For more information about Marshall Ellis' Dance School visit http://medanceschool.com/.

Photo Credits: Marshall Ellis

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