#maya taylor

[arutai]

Maya Taylor by Vlasta Pilot

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i’m on mobile and have to abide by tumblr’s completely unnecessary photo limit, but definitely check out the rest of jen richards’ tweets from today cause she goes into even more discourse regarding the importance of trans participation in the entertainment industry to not only improve their economic gain, but to just straight up improve the trans community’s overall safety in our transphobic world.

i became aware of these tweets thanks to @harinef retweeting many of them, tho she too helps to continue the issue by starring in TRANSPARENT, which certainly stars/features many other trans performers throughout its run, but only jeffrey tambor seems to receive any legit awards attention or recognition for his work. i love the show and hari, who earned the incredible opportunity to portray a trans woman character in a hugely successful show and obviously wanted (and potentially needed) the important gig for her creative and economic livelihood, but i am also able to recognize the negatives that come along with this partially thanks to what richards’ expressed in her statements earlier today.

maya taylor’s spirit award winning performance in TANGERINE, laverne cox’s emmy nominated performance in ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, and jamie clayton’s leading role in SENSE8 (a show created by two trans women) help to greatly indicate how important and, frankly, easy it is to provide trans actors with roles so clearly designed for them, so hopefully we’re nearing a time when those opportunities become more abundant, without needing the “safety” of featuring a cis actor performing trans alongside them. it’s not only good for art, but ESSENTIAL to the trans community.

[serendipity-uk]

Maya Taylor on LDIF 2015 and Beyond

We’ve recently interviewed Maya Taylor who will be performing at this year’s launch! Read below for everything you need to know about her performance at LDIF 2015 and more!

1.    Is this your first time in the UK performing?If so, what do you expect? Are you looking forward to performing to a new audience in the UK?

This is my first time performing in the UK. I am absolutely thrilled and cannot wait to arrive in Leicester for the festival. Anytime I perform in front of a new audience, I get beautiful butterflies right before I am about to step on the stage. This performance is special for me. It’s my first time presenting my work to an international audience.

2.     Are you excited to be performing at the launch this year on the International Day of Dance?

Absolutely. I am really excited about the opportunity to perform, but even more excited to create an original work for the launch.

Any day that we celebrate dance is beautiful. But an International Day of Dance moves us to build new audiences and to give the art the respect it deserves.

3.     Can you talk to us about your performance at the launch, what it portrays? What it means to you?

My solo portrays the journey of finding life again after a traumatic event. It will explore all of the contrasting emotions of isolation, heartbreak, confusion and the quest to find understanding after losing someone significant.

I wouldn’t be a dancer without my mother’s influence.

While my performance won’t be a step-by-step narrative of my experience with losing her, it will expose the vulnerability and the strength that it takes to decide to move forward.

4.     For the performance at City Rooms, you are dancing to an original piece of music by Dustin Gledhill. Can you describe the music to us and how does it relate to your dance? How did this music become part of your performance?

For my performance, I knew that I wanted something very dramatic and intricate in sound. A piece of music that represents a world of emotions through each of the movements.

I met Dustin through the Marigny Opera House in New Orleans, Louisiana where we both presented works this year. We spoke about my ideas for Under a Glass Bell and realized that we both shared the experience of losing someone who greatly inspired our lives.

My mother took me to a rose garden once when she was ill. We sat next to these blooming flowers and we laughed and we cried. We laughed and we cried about how funny life was. To this day it is one of the most vivid memories I have of her.

I told this story to Dustin and from there he created a beautiful elegy. One that I think really captures what my performance portrays.

5.     What were your biggest influences growing up whilst trying to become a professional dancer?

I trained at The Ailey School in New York City so many of my influences were the dancers in the company: Matthew Rushing, Hope Boykin, and Linda Celeste Sims.

Three power houses. Three artists who also have incredible work ethic. To be able to see them in class and perform regularly was a priceless experience during my training.

Later, as I began exploring different styles of modern and contemporary, Angelin Preljocaj, Jiri Kylian, and Pina Bausch influenced me. And when I began choreographing, the works of Julie Bour, Brice Mousset, Wayne McGregor, and Sol Leon and Paul Lightfoot influenced me.  

6.     What advice would you give to anyone wanting to be a professional dancer like yourself?

Great question. If you want to become a professional dancer there are a few tools to have in your arsenal…

Ask questions. Find the style of dance you love and work hard to perfect your technique. But don’t limit yourself to one style your entire career, study lots of genres. This will help influence your technique and artistry as you perform.

Every teacher and choreographer is different so be prepared to adapt quickly. Details matter.

Understand that corrections are given to make you better, not break you down. Never feel like you’re too good to receive corrections. Besides your artistry and technique, this will make you an asset to any choreographer.

Take risks and reach out to people you admire. If you take a master class, workshop, or audition don’t be afraid to introduce yourself, say thank you, and follow up shortly after. The world is about building relationships and the best place to start is right when you walk in the door.

Finally, rejection is ok. You are going to face a lot of rejection and criticism as you embark on your career. It is how you deal with both that really speaks to what kind of artist you will become.

7.     What’s next for you after LDIF? Any new projects?

After LDIF, I will return to the States and begin working on a screen dance of Under a Glass Bell. We have beautiful scenery in New Orleans and I’m really interested in creating films of my work. This summer, I’ll also be spending two weeks teaching and choreographing at Perry Mansfield in Springboat Springs, Colorado. It’s a wonderful performing arts camp that has been around for 102 years! After that, I will begin working on a new full-length piece with the Marigny Opera House Dance Company for their second season.

[othervoicesaa]

Cold, Starry Night

Maya Taylor '18

“Hey Mom,” Ava’s voice rang throughout the house. “We’re leaving.” The reply was not fast enough, as the door slammed shut before anyone could have given a word of consent. Outside, the wind howled and ripped at the dry December grass in Ava’s front yard and as I fell into step with her, our blonde ponytails swung wildly around our heads: Ava’s, a low hanging, loosely made, bleach blond one, mine, tightly made, and of a darker shade. I breathed in the cold. It was the kind that was relieving and refreshing, and that would wake you up anytime of the day. Ava and I made our way down the street, my best friend walking slightly ahead of me with a light spring in her step.

“Thanks for coming, Maya.” She turned to me and smiled, her blue eyes sparkling.

“Thank you for inviting me, it was fun.” After a pause, we both sighed simultaneously and laughed. School would soon start up again, and then no more getting together with each other. We had to make it last while we could.

“I am glad I got to spend some time with you, Ava.” I glanced over at her, and she looked at me. There was a sort of somber expression on her face, at least, as somber as she could get. The rest went unspoken, but the silence was a nice silence. It was a silence of two great friends after a long day of play and excitement. It was a silence I would learn to lose.

Ava straightened the straps on her swimsuit and was preparing to pull her pale blue swim cap on when I walked up, already wearing all of my swim gear. Ava stopped what she was doing and looked up at me. Her eyes looked mildly surprised, as I rarely ever spoke to her before swim practice, but she covered the feeling up subconsciously before I said a word. I stopped in front of her, a gold and red wrapped package in my hand, with a card on top. Feeling a little bit out of place, I really realized how much taller than her I actually was. We used to be the same height, though not anymore.

“Here, Ava,” I stuck out my hand with the gift. “This is for all you guys, you know, the whole family.” The awkwardness was still there, but Ava wasn’t bothered by it and immediately became happy and excited.

“Thank you, Maya!” Her face lit up, and I could tell she meant it. My shoulders relaxed. She took the present and looked at the card, on which a black horse was rearing up in front of the moon, its mane and tail decorated with wreaths and Christmas ribbons. The paper was slightly bent: the effect that comes from drying watercolor. “It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed. I smiled and felt all the tension on my part slip away, just like old times, when we were the best of friends. “It’s amazing!! Thank you so much!” She smiled brightly at me and hurried away to put the present in her bag. I turned and rushed back to the pool’s edge, diving into the ice cold water. I had written the card for Ava and her family, written a little note on the end that read: “I know we are not as close as we used to be, but I’m always here if you need me.” I meant it. Bubbles formed in the water next to me, and as they cleared I smiled at Ava who had just backflipped into the the pool. She was still my best friend, even if I may not have been hers.

One night, while I was packing my swim bag and getting ready to go, Ava walked around the corner of the locker room, jumped up onto the bench, and jumped off again. She did this everyday, although I had never quite figured out why. She turned around and started walking towards the door.

“Bye,” I said. Only then did she turn around and reply.

“Bye, Maya.” She smiled brightly at me before walking out. I quickly finished packing up, stuffing my wet towel and swimsuit into my bag and slinging it over one shoulder, hoping to catch Ava while she waited for her parents. I hurried out and found her sitting on the metal bar in front of the entrance to the pool. I pulled myself up next to her and set my things down by my feet.

“So, how was skiing?” I asked.

“We skied the ridge, and Al’s run, and…” Ava went on to list all of the fancy and complicated runs she had skied with her friends and brother over the weekend. I simply nodded and tried my best to understand. I had never been much of a skier, but Ava was really good. “The wind was so strong though!” Ava continued. “Alisa and I were hugging each other on the lifts so as not to fall off, and you know the necklaces that we throw onto the trees?” Again, I nodded, but this was something I actually did understand. “Well, we were trying to throw them, but they just went straight down to the ground!”

“Wow,” I raised my eyebrows, “That must have been scary…” Ava nodded. There was movement outside the window and I realized her dad was there to pick her up. I pointed and she grabbed her bag.

“Bye, Maya,” she walked out into the cold. I followed her and stood at the corner of the sidewalk to wait for my parents. “I will call you this weekend. Maybe we can finally get together again?”

“That sounds great!” I replied.

“Okay! I will see you then!” I nodded and grinned as Ava climbed into the car that had just pulled up, waved and drove away. Still moments later, I could see her waving through the window, her silhouette laid up against the starry backdrop.

I stepped into the brightly lit room and set my bag down by the door. Chatter filled the air and people were everywhere, sitting or standing. At one end of the room, I made out a group of girls, Ava among them, filling up one of the long tables. No chair had been left for me, but I pretended not to notice and grabbed some pizza and a soda and sat myself down at the other corner of the room. More people arrived and all of the younger kids on the swim team filled in the seats around me. Our coach sat at the table next to mine and talked with the parents who had come for the party, laughing, eating and discussing the latest time to beat. I knew I didn’t fit in here. This just wasn’t my place to be. Sitting glumly at my table, my shoulders hunched, I watched Ava sit with all of her friends across the room; they were causing most of the noise and commotion, and seemed to be enjoying themselves. How many times had I told myself that I didn’t want to be part of that group? How many times had I drilled the thought that I didn’t want to be friends with those girls? And yet, how many times had I realized that I just wanted to have my old friend back? I stood up from the table and reminded myself to smile as I exited the noisy room.

Ava’s hands were pushed against the hot door of the car. Her fingers were rimmed with red from the cold wind and she pushed them off the warm metal to rub them together, but quickly leaned back down to talk to the driver. After a few moments, she glanced up out of the car to consult the girl next to her. A wide smile spread across her face, and her eyes glistened, perhaps because of the cold, but more likely because of the excitement. Waiting a few feet away, I was standing just close enough to overhear, and, watching the moon climb up over the horizon, I couldn’t help but listen.

“Can we, Dad?” It was Ava. “Can we have a sleepover?” She ran her hand through her damp, mangled hair and looked up again as the girl next to her began to speak.

“We understand we couldn’t tonight, of course, but…”

My mom pulled into the parking lot. I jumped down to the street just as she stopped in front of me and strained to keep my face neutral as I opened the door and climbed in. Turning to the steamed up window just as I felt a hot tear roll down my cheek, I made out the bleary red lights of the city around me. Our car drove out, past the distorted image of the girls standing in the street, and on, into the cold, starry night.

[aaothervoices-blog]

Cold, Starry Night by Maya Taylor

Cold, Starry Night by Maya Taylor

“Hey Mom,” Ava’s voice rang throughout the house. “We’re leaving.” The reply was not fast enough, as the door slammed shut before anyone could have given a word of consent. Outside, the wind howled and ripped at the dry December grass in Ava’s front yard and as I fell into step with her, our blonde ponytails swung wildly around our heads: Ava’s, a low hanging, loosely made, bleach blond one,…

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[nicolakayleigh]

❤Taylor Swift

At the Taylor swift concert sooo exited