Emmy®- nominated choreographer Travis Wall was in Denver this weekend to participate in the NUVO Dance Convention. He lends his artistic genius and choreography to mentor young students. Travis will be back in the 303 at the Newman Center Gates Concert Hall on Sunday, June 2nd at 8 p.m. with his dance company “Shaping Sound.” I caught up with Travis this weekend, talked about his company, upcoming projects, dance influences, and “Rupaul’s Drag Race.”
303 Magazine: You have an astounding resume for your age. Who and what do you credit your growing success too?
Travis Wall: I credit my mom. She is the one that trained me from a very young age. Also, as a young professional, I was always incredibly ambitious and motivated to work. I began professional work at the age of nine and moved to New York to work professionally when I was 12. I also credit my success to “So You Think You Can Dance.” I got an incredible amount of exposure and will always be so grateful for the opportunities that show gave me. I thank my mom and the teachers that inspired me growing up. I have learned a lot from a lot of people.
303: You have such a readily recognizable style of choreography. What influences have you pulled from to create such a distinctive style and what is your process like for creating a piece?
TW: I have been choreographing since I was 15 years old and was lucky enough to get paid for it. My choreography has been evolving for ten years. I have been lucky enough to grow such a big volume of dance work and I have been able to pull from all of my life experiences. As I mature, of course, different life experiences grow and it changes your work.
Photo Credit: Break the Floor Productions
303: When “Shaping Sound” visits the Newman center in June, what can audiences expect?
TW: Above all, you can expect to be entertained for an hour and half. The audience will think of nothing but the show they are watching. There is not a dull moment. It is a beautiful love story. There are so many different styles of music and dance. It is a rollercoaster and when it is over, you will definitely still be thinking of it afterward. You will definitely want to go to the bar next door afterwards and talk it out with your friends.
303: What is it like to have the creative freedom to mount your own show?
TW: I can’t tell you how fun it is to have the creative freedom to do whatever you want. The process is very different when you are hired for a movie or a music video and you are told to choreograph a piece. You have to work with the director and then producer and make sure everyone is happy. I can’t tell you what a dream it is to have someone say, “You have an hour and half show, go make what you want.” The four of us have come up with such a unique show and I cannot wait to share it with everyone. At the same time, I am so excited that I am a performer in it as well. I am becoming a bit of an older dancer now and I have had a lot trauma with a hip and knee injury and I was able to choreograph myself in a smart way as to work around those issues. I do not choreograph things that do not feel good on my body so I am able to have longevity within the show.
303: What is the processor for becoming a company member in shaping sound? Are you working with people you have known in the industry or up and coming young dancers?
TW: I have known most, or the entire cast of dancers since I was 16. We were all of the kids growing up in the industry working professionally. I became established in the choreography world when I was 21 or 22 and I started hiring these dancers professionally. We decided, “let’s do this all the time, we should always dance together.” We have all been dancing together for three years now and have grown into a real company.
303: Now for a silly one, my sister and I are completely obsessed with “Rupaul’s Drag Race,” how was it choreographing for season four?
TW: I loved it. It was so much fun. The producers of the show are the same producers for our reality show, “All the Right Moves.” They asked me to do it and I was said, “Absolutely yes.” Being a guest judge on the show is one of my favorite accomplishments. I have loved Rupaul since I was little and she is just a legend, so it was a very awesome experience. I was so happy I did it and I loved the episode itself. I would love to do it again.
We are looking forward to seeing Travis back in “Shaping Sound” in June.