Q & A with Kiesha Lalama-White

Kiesha Lalama-White
Age: 36
Residence: Center Township, Beaver County

Known for her contagiously energizing personality, Kiesha Lalama-White is embarking on a new and unique project. You can follow it on Facebook! Lalama-White, a full-time dance faculty member at Point Park University, is tapping into her own interests, experiences and passions to create “The Bench.” “The Bench,” Lalama-White’s first full-length piece, is a world premiere multimedia dance experience about the trials and tribulations of life.

In January, Lalama-White was recognized as one of Dance Magazine’s top 25 up-and-coming professionals to watch in 2009. She choreographed a dance scene for the 2009 movie “Sorority Row.” Her choreography has been performed at the Youth American Grand Prix, the Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago and the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company. Her newest piece, “The Bench,” proves to be her biggest project yet.

Q: How did you conceive the idea for “The Bench”?

A: For a couple years now, I wanted to collaborate with my cousins. David Lalama is a very successful composer and full-time professor at Hofstra and Ralph Lalama is a Grammy award winning saxophone musician. Through the years I just wanted to find the perfect project for us. A friend of mine, Michael Dickens, is a visual artist and he was showing me some of his work. And he showed me this image he took in London of an older couple sitting on a bench. I kept looking at the image and I looked at Michael and said, could you image being 80 years old and still together with your husband or wife? And the stories that would come from that. And the journey through life, the trials and triumphs, the conflict and the celebrations. And then I just started brainstorming.

Q: Describe “The Bench.”

I wanted to incorporate other elements and bring something innovative to the stage for dance. It just hit me, if I could incorporate some images and famous quotes to intertwine the story. The quote that brought it all together for me, the overall esthetic of the show, is by Confucius, “To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order; we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.” People with careers, working moms nowadays, the divorce rate, nobody prioritizes family. So I wanted to send a message of family and how wonderful it is to really work and build a relationship. Staying true to who you love and who you. And it was perfect for the holiday season!

Q: What has been the most difficult part about conceiving and creating “The Bench”?

A: I hate to say that none of it has been difficult. Is that terrible? The biggest challenge for me was making sure the structure of the show made sense. I can conceive a show all I want, but the follow through and the actual writing of it, seeing it up on its feet, making sure it is clear to the audience and that our message we are sending is interpreted. I want the audience to be able to interpret the show in their own way. I wanted to make sure the structure within the story timeline was smart. I wanted to incorporate the element of surprise and make sure I tell the story from not only my perspective, but I had to incorporate other people’s perspectives. I had to interview people and do some research. I don’t know if that was difficult, but it was intriguing. I learned a lot from that process.

Q: How did you get your start? What was your big break?

A: My first big choreographic step was “‘JOLT” for the Houston Met. Kiki Lucas is one of my closest and dearest friends and she asked me if I would ever consider going down to Houston to set a piece on the company. I jumped at the opportunity. It was the first time anyone ever asked me to step out of Pittsburgh. I think for me, emotionally, that was probably one of the best things that could ever happen to me. It made me realize that I am certainly capably, but interested in national choreography projects. Choreographing “JOLT” for the Houston Met was my first big step into fully realize my potential. I owe them many, many thanks.

Q: Where do you draw your passion to dance from?

A: I think that most of my works originate from the human condition. I find people fascinating. I find their stories fascinating. I love listening to those life changing moments that change the paths of certain people. Basically, the journey of life and everything that goes along with it. That’s where “The Bench” came from. I said it’s time to tap into my own interests. What I really love and am passionate about. It all comes down to the human condition. My works have become more about creating an experience and not just a project.

Q: What is the best piece of advice you can give to your students and young professionals in the dance world?

A: Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up. You are going to face so many challenges and obstacles within your career. Don’t ever let someone tell you that you can’t. Follow your gut, knowing deep down inside you can do something. It takes time. If you would have told me I would be sitting here talking about a full-length production and my national career 10 years ago, I would have laughed at you and said there’s no way. You never know! Never give up!

“The Bench” will premiere in the Rockwell Theater at the Pittsburgh Playhouse on December 11. The show runs December 11-13 and 18-20. Tickets can purchased online or by calling the Pittsburgh Playhouse box office at 412-621-4445.