Los Angeles based dancer and choreographer Gemma Asfour is constantly in motion. Whether it is dancing her heart out on a stage, interviewing guests on her “Society Inspired” podcast, or snapping pictures as an amateur photographer, Gemma is always working toward her dreams. She recently released her first concept video, “Always Forever”, in which she not only danced, but she also choreographed and produced the video. No matter what Gemma is doing, she never settles for anything less than perfection. Gemma did stop for a short time to do this interview about her dance career and her goals for 2024.
1. Tell us about your concept video “Always Forever”.
My first concept video, “Always Forever,” shows a push-and-pull relationship and our reliance on other humans when we feel loneliness/emptiness. It is my pride and joy; I am forever proud of how it came together. It took me a while to make it, but I faced a lot of battles throughout the creation journey. Whether it was learning to trust my choreography or how I saw the video coming out. As the choreography came together, I started identifying the feelings of loneliness and reliance throughout the piece. Then, intentionally implementing those feelings brought the vision to life even more!
2. How do you prepare for a performance?
How I prepare for a performance depends on what kind of performance it will be, the setting of the performance, and so much more. Some things I do each time I have a performance are making sure hair, makeup, and extra clothing, in case original costumes don’t work out, are packed a day in advance. This is so I am confident that I have everything I need because believe it or not, “look” is so important when you dance. Not only looking good but being able to move freely and the easiest you can. Before the performance, I like to make sure I go through the choreography consistently while waiting backstage. Not too much, though, because I don’t want to sike myself out and not trust myself when I get onstage. The last thing I prepare is to make a plan B for specific situations. What are you going to do if a prop breaks? What if you have a wardrobe malfunction? Sometimes, thinking of these things beforehand can be helpful.
3. How much rehearsal time is there to learn choreography before a performance?
How much rehearsal time you have to learn choreography or to choreograph a performance also varies because sometimes a piece has to drop out of the performance, and then you have to put a whole new piece together. A week is the fastest I have had to learn a piece before a performance. But just a few weeks ago, someone in our piece was sick the day of the performance. My whole role in the piece was changed two hours before the performance! So again, it all depends on when you are told the performance will be. Typically, you have at least a week to get it together.
4. What do you love most about dancing?
This is such a simple question, but I can give many answers, too. What I love most about dancing is how you can do anything with it. It is so beautiful that you can express any emotion, feeling, or situation with movement, especially when you are either filled with passion or watching somebody who loves the art form move/create. It just makes me feel whole. It’s always my missing piece and I find it over and over again.
5. What’s the craziest thing that happened during a performance?
Honestly, I have thought about this question for a while. I haven’t had too many crazy experiences. The only one I can think of is quite embarrassing. I was competing with a sinus infection and was really stuffed up. I had to turn in my dance, and as soon as I did, snot flew out of my nose! I felt so bad, but I don’t think it hit anybody. I’m not sure, though. Oh my gosh, it was embarrassing at the time! My mom and I laugh at it now, haha! She saw it happen & met me backstage with a box of Kleenex laughing.
6. What do you hope people will take away from watching you dance?
Most of the time, what I hope people take away from watching me dance is up to the audience’s interpretation. They could be going through something specific in their life, and they could pinpoint something in the performance to relate to it even more. If they feel understood or inspired, that really means the most to me. Sometimes, my intentional feelings are understood by the audience. But if they walk into the performance already feeling something strong, they will likely find that emotion within the performance.
7. What are your goals for 2024?
I have many goals for 2024, but the main one is to release more personal creations. Finally releasing “Always Forever” inspired me with so many more ideas for the future of my creative career. Another goal is to keep working as a dancer and a director to utilize my creative visions, as well as others’ visions for their projects.
8. Where can we follow you on social media?
You can follow my career/my life on my main account @gemma.asfour on all social platforms. I also run an activism campaign called Society Inspired, where I talk monthly to different activists about different social issues. If you want to follow that and listen to some episodes, you can look up @society_inspired on Instagram & Society Inspired on YouTube/your preferred podcast platform. Lastly, I run a photography account and am releasing a lot of photography this year.
You can find that @snapsby.gem on Instagram.
