Getting to Know Brett Bell - NACHMO Boston Interview

By Nicole Harris

It was lovely to meet and get to know Brett Bell during NACHMO Boston this year! We are excited to share his piece at the Malden Dance Mile on June 5th!

Malden Dance Mile

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N: How was the NACHMO experience? What was something that went really well? What was something that went a little sideways?
BB: ​I have been choreographing for over 10 years and every experience has its ups and downs. For NACHMO, I felt it was such a new experience creating dance on film that everything felt wrong, but in a good way. I was challenged to use tools that went familiar, and unsure of where to start and what the outcome would be as a whole. I am pleased to say I would do this over and over and over again, and take what I have learned from NACHMO as I continue to create for as long as I can.
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N: What is something you learned from this process?
BB: I learned that I cannot do everything alone. My experience will always require editing and I am grateful for any amount of feedback I have received throughout this process.
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N: What sort of changes (if any) did you make between the NACHMO Boston informal showing and the Malden Dance Mile?
BB: The changes between the informal and MDM showing I made, were use of space. I needed to consider the audience receiving more of a personal experience. Taking away the frontal view, and giving a visually uncomfortable take of searching for happiness.
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By An Original Photography

N: Who are your mentors? What makes those relationships special to you? What are you doing to pay forward the gifts they have given you?
BB: One of the most influential mentors I currently have is Sheryl Pollard-Thomas. She was one of my first teachers at the Boston Arts Academy where I began my training, and to this day, I will contact her with questions on what to do, or how to approach creating. Paying it forward to my students as I guide them and teach as I was taught.
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​N: It is important to us that we continue to lift up other artists in our community. Who are some of your favorite Boston area choreographers? Why?

BB: YES, this is very important. We must lift each other as artists because what we do is valuable and could have great impact on our communities. Im a FAN FAV of my dancers/ Boston based creators, Jeryl Palana and Deidre Lewis. These two fantastic women have continued to support me as I have supported them. To name a few more, Angie Conte, William McLaughlin, and Joe Gonzalez.