UV: As a choreographer you devote much of your time to an art form that involves motion. What inspired you to create still images?
EK: In dance we need still images for press and publicity. However, with our current project, Undressed, I have felt that the photos we created with Elizabeth are an art piece on their own. I have always been struck by Elizabeth's skill in taking dance photos that not only convey the spirit of the choreography, but reveal hidden nuances and narratives. And since we have been working with naked bodies, which are in themselves exquisite works of art, this photo series has been a magical experience that complements and adds to the live piece.

UV: What do you feel is lost by creating static art and what do you feel is gained?
EK: For me, visual art is never static. I see movement in paintings, sculptures and especially photos. In still art, there is the ability to extract individual moments and give them focus that otherwise might be missed live. However, the energy of live performance and the possibilities for working with gravity, momentum and surprise have a transformative power for me that I have not found in any other medium. Undressed is a work-in-progress (scheduled to premiere in 2004 with lots of showings along the way) and the myriad of images from our photo shoot with Elizabeth have been helping me to shape the choreography.

UV: Do you conceptualize a piece beforehand or give reign to spontaneity?
EK: I do a lot of planning before coming together with the dancers, but end up using those plans as only a starting point. I am almost always more interested in what is created spontaneously in our live interactions than anything I could have thought up on my own.

UV: What is the meaning of life?
EK: I don't know that there is one meaning of life. I know that I find purpose, strength and nourishment from continually working to meet with ease, compassion and aliveness all I encounter within me and without. Dance and performance have been some of the key tools for me to practice that.

UV: If these women are a sandwich what kind of sandwich are they?
EK: They are a sandwich of shared experience and support. These three women have danced in Dandelion's work and each other's work, as well as accompanied each other and myself through many difficult and joyful life transitions consistently over the last 8 years. Our comfort together led me to choreograph so intimately with them. Some more cynical folks might call this a cheesy answer, so in that case, I guess they're a cheese sandwich.