Tending the Waters

Photo: Alondra Perez by Don Q. Hannah

Choreographer: Charlotte Katherine Smith in collaboration with the cast.

Performers: Aerica Gotten, Marissa Mahoney, Amanda Harris, Alondra Perez, Thomas Ng, Rivka Villanueva, Cheryl Wei, Jaymie Valentine, Tyan Schesser, and Lael Battiste.

​Composer: Zac Greenberg
Costumes: Charlotte Katherine
Digital Media Director + Editor: Charlotte Katherine in collaboration with:
-Projection Consultant + Editor: Eric Sheehan
-Digital Media Cinematographer: George Pham

"Tending the Waters” choreographed by Charlotte Katherine Smith, was meant to be a moment to release and recharge, especially with the chaos in the world right now and featured a cast of ten dancers backed up by visuals projected onto the back wall. The video appeared to show a camera panning over drops of water on glass to the sounds of water running and a heartbeat. One dancer walked in while executing simple, soft gestures. Eventually her movements grew bigger while maintaining a sense of calm. Dressed in a palette of white, beige, and bronze, a line of dancers entered performing similar gestures. The soloist exited as the others continued forward before breaking apart and beginning to fill the space and occasionally interacted with one another. I enjoyed the layers of movements that were at different speeds – it reminded me of a body of water in constant motion, with some areas moving faster at times. One dancer executed a beautifully quiet solo of turns and legs as the rest moved back into their original gestural work. The way the dancer moved silently added to the meditative environment. The last image involved the dancers rotating in and out of a diagonal line, seeming to embody water again, like a tide ebbing and flowing, with little hops seeming to show drops or sprays of water popping up. The work was enjoyable and felt like the reset and moment of calm that Smith envisioned." - Rachel Turner for LA Dance Chronicle

Read the Full Article Here:  https://www.ladancechronicle.com/brockus-match-residency-showcases-how-artists-react-to-world-events/

---

Drift

Photo by: Don Q. Hannah

"Drift" explores a quiet moment of internal peace away from our chaotic world. This solo movement study is inspired by a field recording of Zac Greenberg rowing the Goosenecks of the San Juan and their other adventures in nature.

Choreographer + Performer: Charlotte Katherine
Music: Zac Greenberg
Costume: Charlotte Katherine

US Premiere: Los Angeles Dance Festival | 26 April 2025 | Los Angeles, CA

"Charlotte Katherine Smith is a well known choreographer and dancer in LA. For her work titled “Drift” (premiere) she told the audience to sit back and become immersed in her work and to try to forget what is taking place in the world. Smith is such a well-seasoned performer that it was easy to heed her advice.
​
Wearing a light gold colored outfit, Smith began slowly, almost meditatively before she expanded her movement into the space and gained speed. Her movement style is very contemporary, fusing together modern dance with lyrical. A few times Smith moved through a fourth position with a Cunningham-like back curve. It was gorgeous. She incorporated the outside whirlwind of events but soothed our feathers down again by returning to her meditational movement." - Jeff Slayton for LA Dance Chronicle
​
Read the Full Article Here:  https://www.ladancechronicle.com/the-second-night-of-la-dance-festival-brought-additional-premiere-works/

---

​What Have We Done?-Chasing Columbine

Photo by Denise Leitner

​- a one human show - 60 minutes - Humans are destroying the earth. Humans are slaughtering each other in the name of gods and for their political control. Greed rules our commercial lives. Do we become desensitized to the daily reports of starving children, school shootings, and humans murdering each other, even whole households in cold blood? What will the next disastrous report bring? What Have We Done? - Chasing Columbine explores the impact of our world’s atrocities on the innocent observer watching the world implode from the physical safety of their home. Pierrot returns from a satisfying day at work. Thriving. On a high from the success. They sit down, flip on the TV, and daydream about the joys of their day and dreams for the future. Everything is seemingly perfect until the news headlines hit…Will we survive? Will we perish? Pierrot is left to cope with their inability to help while trying to move forward to build a better tomorrow.


Creator + Producer + Performer + Digital Media + Costumes: Charlotte Katherine Smith
Producer: Grace Hannoy
Live Composer: Zac Greenberg
Sonic Collaborators: Michelle Rocquet + Sam Katz
Projection Consultant + Editor: Eric Sheehan
Digital Media Cinematographer: George Pham + Charlotte Katherine
Production Assistant: Greg “Noodles” Johnson
Lighting Designer: Taejin Jeong
Voiceovers: Francis Ceschin, Didi Birgören, Jules Lee, Smaranda Dumitru + Premawansha Galegedara
Premiere Guest Performers/Choreographers: Jeong Mi-young, Kwon Sun-hwa + Kim Eun-jung

Films (in order of appearance):
Pyriscence - Director + Still Photographer: Angeline Herron | Performers: Zac Greenberg + Charlotte Katherine | Cinematographer: Joseph Cicio | Editor: Scott Kelley | Colorist: Jose Hernandez | White Dress: Diana MacNeil

Cavernous Consciousness - Director/DP/Editor: Katherine Grace Murphy | Choreographer/Performer: Charlotte Katherine | Composer: Zac Greenberg | Colorist: Karbis Sarafyan

weeble/WOBBLE: Director/Performer - Charlotte Katherine | Sculptor: PJ Doss | Composer: Zac Greenberg | Cinematographer: Joseph Cicio | Still Photographer: Angeline Herron | Editor: Charlotte Katherine | Colorist: Jose Hernandez

​
Consultants:
Lighting Consultant: Andrew Carr
Color Consultant: Colin Trenbath
​​HMU Consultants: Saida Staudenmaier + Dan Gilbert
Costume Consultant: Mieka van der Ploeg
Creative Consultants: Jeong Mi-young, Deborah Brockus, Sean Greene, Leslie Duner, Katherine Murphy, Keaton Wooden, Nick Singh + more.

Special Thanks: The Government of the Republic of Korea, Association for Korean Dances in Germany e.V., Simhyunju-Dance with us, City of West Hollywood, Brockus Project Dance, Greg Johnson + RF Film, Fran Spector Atkins + Raphael at Target Trim.


International PREMIERE:
Internationales Deutsch-Koreanisches Tanzfestival
19 September 2024 - 20:30
UFERSTUDIOS1 - Uferstraße 23, 13357 - BERLIN, GERMANY


Local PREVIEW:
Women In Concrete - Presented by Brockus Project Dance
14 September 2024 - 14:30
FIESTA HALL - 1166 N Vista St, 90046 - WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, USA
​
Live Photographer: Denise Leitner
Videographer: Taso Papadakis

---

Whimsical Wanderings

Photo by: Denise Leitner

​Title: Whimsical Wanderings
Music: Robert Schumann
Choreographer + Performer: Charlotte Katherine Smith
Cinematographer + Editor + Costumes: Charlotte Katherine

US Premiere: Los Angeles Dance Festival | 26 April 2024 | Los Angeles, CA

"Charlotte Katherine & Co. tickled us with her  “Whimsical Wanderings.”    Her colorful “actual” flowered tunic over a simple wheat under-dress played against pastural scenes that appeared to be shot on an iPhone and projected on the large back wall. It took the audience on a ride with scenes turning upside down and sideways – just to counter her delight and simple playfulness that left us smiling at its ending."  
​
Read the Full Article Here: https://www.ladancechronicle.com/la-dance-festival-honors-dance-elder-with-lifetime-service-award/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFhlQlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXQYDqs2eUfgu2TI7kAPgFAVtWjU0G0nI73a9EdkrPQoC-fi1sL3Fc1GNw_aem_MgpGzFK65GitYfdS0q5_Qg

---

If You Can't Beat 'em, Join 'em 

Yeun Hwaa + Charlotte Katherine l By: Denise Leitner

Absurdist comedy dance theatre piece exploring various concepts of push and pull, obsession and balance, solo play and teamwork. Created in collaboration with US and Korean movement and sound performing artists.


Choreographer: Yeun Hwaa + Charlotte Smith
Composer: Austin Ford + Zac Greenberg


US Premiere; Los Angeles Dance Festival International  l  June 23, 2023

---

Echo

Site-specific creative multi-media international artist collaboration utilizing a refurbished oil tank as the inspiration spark.

Created in a 4 day collaboration, Music + Digital + Dance Co-work, as part of the Seoul International Dance Festival in TANK - at the Oil Tank Culture Park, Seoul, Korea  l  July 9, 2022

Choreographer/Performer: Ahn Eun-joo + Charlotte Smith
Composer/Performer: Zac Greenberg
Digital Media- Lee Youngmi

Producer: ING Collaboration Group General + Choi Moon-ae Production
Cinematography/Editing: Han Won-seok

---

I WILL

Photo by: Denise Leitner

Days are hard, life is challenging, female rights are under attacked in America. Living in the present moment, with obstacles assembling a maze of uncertainity, I am face to face with myself. I see the birthing people before, after, and alongside me. I see my trials and failures. No matter how hard we push, it is not enough. But I am enough. I can rise and overcome all obstacles. I can stand strong and confident. I WILL.

This solo work addresses self-confidence, self-love, role in community, and our diminishing rights in US society as womxn. It is dedicated to all the birthing people in the US who have been affected by the US Supreme Court's Decision to overthrow Row V. Wade on June 24, 2022.


National Premiere: SIDFIT Pre-view with LA Dance Festival  l  June 24, 2022
International Premiere: Seoul International Dance Festival in TANK  l   July 8, 2022

Additional Performances: Los Angeles Dance Festival  l  April 28, 2023
High Women. at Dynasty Typewriter, Los Angeles  l  April 30, 2023 

"I WILL was an in-your-face drama, quirky, upsetting and marvelous. She provided a portrait of a determined yet somewhat disturbed woman, disheveled, wild hair, who looked at the world with a distraught and piercing stare. I wanted to go up onto the stage and comfort this woman. The solo was brief but one that will stay with me.” Jeff Slayton - LA Dance Chronicle 

Read the full article here: www.ladancechronicle.com/review-friday-april-28-2023-of-the-11th-los-angeles-dance-festival/

---

​ Showgirls’s Revenge

Photo by: Denise Leitner

Choreographer: Charlotte Katherine
Dancers: Leslie Duner Alvarez and Charlotte Katherine
Live Musicians: Nora Germain, Andrew Smith, and Zac Greenberg
Composer: Zac Greenberg 
Costumes: Charlotte Katherine 

---

Les Petits Plaisirs de la Vie 

Photo by: Ginger Sole

An ongoing work in progress which reminds its audience to enjoy the beautiful  moments present in every day life. We are each granted opportunities to find joy in “life’s little pleasures”; this work explores treasuring these magical moments as an individual and the benefits of generously sharing them with our communities. The goal of this work is to remind ourselves to be grateful for the people and moments in our lives that remind us to carry gratitude with us as we realize our potential as individuals and as a collective.
Concepts for the individual sections were inspired by seemingly mundane, but decidedly magical moments from
the cast’s life experiences.
​
Music by Benjamin Marx. Edited by Zac Greenberg.
Original cast: Katherine Murphy, Hyosun Choi, Taylor Unwin, Leslie Duner, Charlotte Smith.
Rehearsal Director: Leslie Duner

Premiere: Los Angeles Dance Festival: Fringe | April 2019
Additional performances: ​DanceBACK at the Madrid Theater, Canoga Park, CA | November 2019
Half the Sky: Women's Voices at Fiesta LA Ballona | October 2021
SpectorDance's Choreographers' Showcase - Dance that Makes a Difference in Carmel By-The-Sea, CA I October 2023

" Warm light, wistful glances and strong bonds between the performers create a comforting contrast to the rest of the lineup, emphasizing the general feelings many of us have been craving during the pandemic: closeness and unity." 
-Lara J. Altunian for LA Dance Chronicle | Aug 6, 2020
Read the full review here: https://www.ladancechronicle.com/the-virtual-la-dance-festival-showcases-quarantines-most-necessary-skill-adaptability/

"With extensions for days, classical gestures, and magical acting, finally something joyful and soulful in the often bogged down,
avantgarde world of modern dance." -Amber Adams for BroadwayWorld.com I May 2, 2019.
Read the full review here: https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/BWW-Review-LA-DANCE-FESTIVAL-FRINGE-FRIDAY-at-The-Diavolo-Space-20190502 
​
"Each châinés was followed by captivating looks upward, as the women leaned on one another, then extended their arms and cupped their hands as though attempting to grab the ethereal. Theirs was by far the most heartwarming of the evening."
-Lara J. Altunian for LA Dance Chronicle I Apr 30, 2019
Read the full review here: https://www.ladancechronicle.com/fringes-opening-night-reveals-an-edgier-side-to-la-dance/

---

In Just a Blink of an Eye 

By Artist: Xu Zhen 
living sculpture at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
July 27–Sept 2, 2019

Check it out at MOCA

---

Celestial Silence

What happens when we look deep into one’s self? Into your experiences, strength, imperfections, validity. When the world falls quiet, can you stand strong with who you see?

Original Performer: Heather Francis 
​Music: "Feet" by Zac Greenberg and Sam Katz
​
International premiere: Seoul International Dance Festival in TANK: Seoul, South Korea. July 2019
National premiere: The Power of Music and Dance: Cincinnati, OH. April 2018.
Local premiere: PGK Dance Project presents at San Diego Art Walk. May 2017.
Other performances: Los Angeles Dance Festival FRINGE 2018
BrockusRed Presents: DanceBACK in Los Angeles, CA 2017
MashUp's Dance's International Women's Day Film Festival 2021. 
SpectorDance's Choreographers' Showcase - Dance that Makes a Difference in Carmel By-The-Sea, CA I October 2023

---

The Power of Music and Dance

An evening length, dance and music concert commissioned by Musicians for Health
at the historic Memorial Hall in ​Cincinnati, OH April 2018.
Raised over $70K for cancer research. ​
​
Choreographer: Charlotte Katherine Smith
Composer: Zac Greenberg
Rehearsal Director: Leslie Duner Alvarez
Dancers: Leslie Duner, Alék López, Moises Josue Michel and Charlotte Smith
Orchestra: concertNOVA 

---

LIMIT

Photo: Charlotte Katherine, Alék López, Leslie Duner Alvarez by Paul Antico

A quartet of zooming dynamic dancers pushing their movement to the limit. 

​Music "Athena's Wrath" by Zac Greenberg
Orignal cast: Leslie Duner, Moises Josue Michel, Alék López, Charlotte Smith

​Premiere: Los Angeles Dance Festival Fringe April 2018
Additional performance: The Power of Music presented by Musicians for Health in Cincinnati, OH April 2018.
​Photo by Paul Antico.

---

Cave

Pictured: Alék López

 Dropped in a deep dark cave, the dancer explores their new environment and familiarizes themselves with their new reality. This project is continually in redevelopment with several collaborators and mediums. 

​Music: "The Call of Corycian Cave" by Zac Greenberg.
Original dancer: Alék López. Local Premiere at CMDC's 5th Anniversary showcase in January 2018. International Premiere in The Power of Music Presented by Musician's For Heath at the historic Memorial Hall in Cincinnati April 2018.
Additional performance by Charlotte Smith at The Madrid Theatre, Canoga Park, CA  I  February 2020.

---

Jupiter Rising

Photo of Leslie Duner by Denise Leitner

Choreographer/Performer: Charlotte Smith
Composer/Performer Zac Greenberg

Premiere: danced by Alan Perez at Voices of LA ARTISTS December 2017

Additional performances danced by Leslie Duner: The Power of Music, Cincinnati, OH  l  April 2018.
Los Angeles Dance Festival's Summer Dance Series  l  June 2018.
Still Moving - Presented by LA Dance Festival  l  February, 10, 2023

"The fascinating work of Charlotte Smith’s Jupiter Rising with composer and performer, Zac Greenberg, playing a triangular string instrument and encircling Smith’s spot-lit legs that reached heaven-wards made for curious, inventive and unique beginnings of this piece.  Her fierce conviction, untamed red hair wildly raging and her feral use of the space under the hot spots, got away from the normal contemporary fare, and into a freedom that kept my attention in rapt wonderment and thankful recognition that there are some who actually invent." Joanne DeVito - LA Dance Chronicle 
Full review here: www.ladancechronicle.com/brockus-gratefullystill-moving/

---

Burning Bell

Photo of Alék López and Charlotte Smith.

A collaborative work with live taiko drumming by Taiko Center of LA's Director Willie Wu.

Original cast of dancers: Sarah Butler, ​Moises Josue Michel, Leslie Duner, Hyosun Choi, Jessica Harper,
Heather Francis, and Charlotte Smith.
​Premiered at WHDF in August 2017. Restaged at LA Theatre Center in January 2018.

---

Bending Inward

Choreography by: Charlotte Katherine in collaboration with dancer, Leslie Duner.
Music: "Sin for a Sin" by Zac Greenberg
Local Premiere: August 2016 in the West Hollywood Dance Festival
National Premiere: Power of Music commissioned by Musicians for Health. Cincinnati, OH 04/22/18.
Additional performances: Voices of LA ARTISTS. LA, CA. 12/11/16.
PGK Dance Project presents at San Diego Art Walk 05/30/17.

"Together, they seamlessly partnered through the space, lifting and melting into one another. There was a movement theme of imbalance and falling that moved the piece forward and carried with it an emotional drive that was not overdone, but instead read honest and visceral," - Beth Megill for LA Dance Review

Full review of WHDF: https://ladancereview.com/2016/08/27/powerful-start-to-the-west-hollywood-dance-festival/

---

DEAD OASIS

Restaging of 'Bending Inward'. Reimagined by Director: Katherine Grace Murphy and created by CMF Productions
​in Borrego Springs, CA. Dance film/music video for "Sin for a Sin" by Zac Greenberg.

Teaser link

---

HAPPINA

"HAPPINA": a full sensory theatrical experience (inspired by the life and philosophy of Pina Bausch combined with the spirit of the Happenings) in a series of moments that captures the essence of these groundbreaking
​art movements in a modern day environment.
​
Choreographed and performed by: Charlotte Katherine
in collaboration with Graphic Designers: Marylouise McGraw and Charles Lin.
Premiered August, 2016 at Pasadena Art Center College of Design

---