My name is Robbi A. Moore, and I am thrilled to be presenting my work at the Men in Dance Choreographer's Showcase. As a choreographer, I am deeply inspired by music and the power of storytelling. This showcase is especially meaningful to me because it marks my first time producing a piece where I am able to pay professional dancers outside of myself. I am re-staging a work I created ten years ago, and it is exciting to see how my growth as an artist allows me to breathe new life into it. Knowing that my earlier work still resonates and has potential is incredibly rewarding, and I am eager to share it with a new audience.

"this place" premiered on July 9, 2015 at Dixon Place, NY as a part of Jessica Chen's TRANSLATE Choreography Showcase. This was the final (at the time) iteration of a duet I had been working on with different dancers starting in 2013. It features two male dancers representing a relationship where the focus is a feeling of safety, vulnerability, and the mental/emotional health of both characters. It is not passionately romantic or even dramatic, but rather about helping each other overcome each of their own personal demons. I did not know it at the time I had the idea to make it, but I set this version of the duet around the time marriage equality was legalized across the U.S., and I happened to be in NYC at the time. I wanted to incorporate my experience of that specific night into this piece somehow.

The funds raised will go directly toward supporting the talented dancers who bring this piece to life. I am working with Ben Swenson-Klatt and Gavin Besteman.

Ben Swenson-Klatt (they/them) is a fellow dancer I collaborated with in Karin Stevens Dance and the 2019 Men in Dance Choreographers Showcase. Ben is returning to professional dance after some time away, and their background in theatre adds beautiful emotional dynamics to their movement.

Gavin Besteman (he/him) is a recent graduate from the University of Washington, ready to launch his dance career. I first saw Gavin's captivating talent while volunteering in Eva Crystal's choreography for Propel at Exit Space School of Dance.

It is a privilege to work with these two brilliant artists, each at different stages in their careers, and I am excited for audiences to witness their connection on stage.

Your support will help me pay dancer stipends, cover rehearsal space costs, and potentially secure music rights for the performance. While the festival provides a stipend for choreographers, it does not fully cover the expenses of producing this work. I believe strongly in compensating dancers fairly for their dedication and artistry, regardless of how polished the work may be. With a very short window to raise funds—since I was initially on the waitlist and had to quickly assemble a cast—every contribution will make a meaningful difference. Thank you for helping me honor the hard work of these dancers and bring this piece to the stage.

Performance Dates are September 26 - 28, 2025 at the Erickson Theatre in Seattle, WA

https://menindance.org/tickets

Cost Outline

I am paying each dancer a minimum of $300 each, totally $600, plus $110 for 11 hours of rehearsal space. I am still waiting to hear back from the management of the two music artists whose work I am using about payment for music rights.

Any extra can help

1.) Pay the dancers more, which would be especially helpful in light of the fact that they will also be collaborating with the creation of a new section of the piece with their own creativity and also represent my piece in the adjudicated talkbacks for the show in the wake of my absence on performance nights due to my current commitment with a professional musical.

2.) Support future work that I hope to continue paying other dancers to perform in.

Other methods of donation can include Venmo @Robbi-Moore-66 and PayPal paypal.me/RobertMoore400

Even if you are not able to donate at this time, PLEASE SHARE with as many people as you can.