golden DRIVE

So here I sit with a beer and a chicken gozleme (a kinda crepe-like sandwich from istanbul) at John F. Kennedy International Airport… waiting patiently to board my flight to Budapest (by way of Frankfurt).  I usually get a little excited and giddy before all tours, but this one in particular is different.  You see, since I moved to NYC, I’ve been balancing a “day job” at a place called Cookie Mogul where I served as a Marketing Director for 4 online bakeries.  I was able to maintain this job while being on tour by working remotely and allocating tasks to interns and other colleagues.  However, yesterday, I bid that job adieu. And now, my life as a free lance dance artist begins.  So maybe I’m part nervous that my life is in such a state of flux and uncertain financial security… but let’s be real, when have I ever been financially stable? Maybe a few months after I get my tax return.  Anyway, Here I am, waiting.

Also, this tour I’ll be performing a new work that I’ve yet to learn… AND I’ll be performing that role as a woman.  See, dreams do come true!  Ever since I joined Australia’s Strange Fruit, I’ve developed an affinity to clowning technique and exaggerated forms of communication.  So far, I’ve been cast / developed my own understanding of caricatures of myself.  Whether it’s a court jester or vaudevillian hopeless romantic… or even a chic Matrix-like super hero performing for Paris Hilton (that’s hott).  BUT NOW, I think I’m facing the greatest challenge of my performing career: being a woman.  Talk about caricature.  And furthermore, I’ll be a Southern Belle… (that will be me in the middle). 

Now if any of you know me or have read the early postings on this blog, you know that I consciously perform gender fluidity in both my “real” life and staged performances.  And I’ve been faced now with being the woman I always wanted to be or thought I was — and I’m scared. Will people laugh at me or with me?  Should I be “fishy” so to speak or should I embody camp?  I’ll only know until I have an audience...

Jinna Yang's father died before he had a chance to see the world, and she wanted to change that.

Sometimes I wonder if my Dad (who passed away 6 years ago) would be proud of me today.  Yesterday, which was Father's Day, I sat stoically on a long bus ride from Maryland to NYC thinking about what he would tell me after one of my performances... would he cry tears of joy? would he pat me on the back saying good job?  Maybe he'll point out moments where I would fuck up... I don't know.  But being the Big Fish legend my father is, all I can do is wonder.  And the language and generational difference between the two of us (while he was alive) only confused the nebulous relationship even further.  

Here are some shots from my solo "Untitled (Solo #3)" from Bushwick Open Studios at Chez Bushwick. The work developed out of feelings of ambivalence and indecisiveness while doing laundry last Tuesday, and eventually manifested into a collage of memories, fantasies, dreams, and reality.  Essentially, I asked the audience to help me pick between two costumes... and it turned into a community of slow dancing with friends and strangers.  The room was saturated with pure joy at the end when I took my blindfold off -- oh, i performed the entire dance blindfolded too.  

Anyway, I don't want to give it all away, but just know that more performance-based work is yet to come; I'm dying get to create more work in this vein.

On February 27, 2014, I started filming myself dancing in public spaces... And little did I know that dancing in an empty airport in Russia would be the beginning of a life-long, self-portrait series.  And little did I know that it would make me so happy... AND little did I know how much it might make other people happy... perhaps? I don't know if I'm being presumptuous, but I've been getting some happy feedback from my friends and surprisingly some strangers too.  

Anyway, I want to take a moment now to foremost thank the people that have sent me Dance Film Selfies.  Oh some context: yesterday (Tue, April 22) was my birthday, and I asked my friends on Facebook and Instagram to send me dance film selfies -- that was my ONLY request.  I hereby declare, Aprill 22nd International Dance Film Selfie Day.  Haha, anyway... those of you who participated, thank you for filling my newsfeed with utter joy, art, expression, and the gift of dance.  Big thank you's to the following for sharing: Lydie Loth, Sarah Oakley, Scottie McBurnie, Daniel Lupo, Nami Hall, David Worthington, Juliet Ante, Kelsie Blackwell, Billierose Kleinbaur, Angie Cassimiro, Angel Garcia and her baby, Kelsie Blackwell, and Carl Holder. 

Not only are the beautiful people mentioned above amazing artists (dancer and non-dancer alike), but hail from ALL over! From Australia to Ohio, LA to NY, Arizona to Texas... It's great to dance with my friends despite geographical constraints.  Thanks again.