New Yorker of the Week

OctMon 2009 Filed in: New Yorker of the Week

Ranardo-Domeico Grays

Craft: Dancer/Choreographer, founder of Visions Contemporary
In New York: 20 years
Lives: Harlem
Why we think he's cool: Just ended a show dedicated to 9/11
Where to find him: ranardo-domeico.com

José: So you put on an amazing show the other night. How did you feel about it?
Ranardo: Thank you. I feel good about it. I pretty much came close to accomplishing what I set out to do.

J: It was titled "In Remembrance" - a showcase dedicated to those whose lives were lost and survivors of 9/11. Why now?
R: The time felt right. I feel that as you grow, you learn to seize opportunity when it comes. And with the overall vision of my company, I look out to touch people through the ideas of human experiences and human relations. 9/11 is one of those human experiences where I felt it necessary to adapt my vision to something that still affects us to this day.

J: Your company's name is Visions Contemporary Ballet. Tell me a bit about that.
R: Originally we started out as Urban Visions Dance, but I wanted to take this company to a broader level from what I originally had.   My background is equally enhanced with ballet, African as well as jazz and various different forms of ethnic dance. With Visions I can incorporate more of the things that really express my choreography as opposed to just keeping an urban feel.   I've been blessed enough to be able to build a company with dancers who are capable of taking on the various styles and techniques which encompass my choreography.

J: How do you create your choreography?
R: Many people say I'm a preacher teacher when I teach, because I always relate on how to get to one step to the next based on life. Dance is life, and if you bring life to movement it creates dance. When I close my eyes I see movement and I see a story; therefore, we have Visions.

J: Let me ask you because you moved here in 1990. You've been here for almost 20 years-
R: Almost, don't rush it!

J: Haha, promise. Do you ever get envious of the younger kids? Now with reality T.V. shows like "So You Think You Can Dance," it seems so easy to become noticed. What are your thoughts on that?
R: No. I feel good about what they’re doing and glad they have the opportunity. I also took advantage of the opportunities that I had coming up.   I won Michigan's Top Choreographer when I was just a teenager.   To be honest, reality TV never appealed to me, and I've never compared myself with the younger kids. Sure, as you age and mature as a dancer, you'll learn you might not always be able to do all of things you want to do physically, but your passion only grows and increases. When you have the components that life brings you, such as pain and suffering, joy and happiness, these are things you can put into your performance. That's not something you always see with the younger kids.

J: You've had hundreds of performances. Describe to me one embarrassing moment.
I don't think I've ever been embarrassed.   I remember once I kicked really high and slipped! Because I kicked so high, my bottom line wasn't grounded, but I continued to follow through with the movement. What it did was just add to my performance and helped me learn to just keep going. If I would've stopped, I might've been embarrassed, but I just pushed through and stayed in the moment. I've learned if you keep yourself in the moment, it leaves little room for error.

J: What would you say is your biggest highlight to date?
R: My biggest highlight is to have my name on my work on my company that I've produced. To have so many people behind me interested and willing is amazing, and that's huge!

J: What's next?
R: I'm gonna be performing this season in NYC. And working towards developing one of the top most dynamic dance companies based in NY that anyone has ever heard of. That's for 2010!

J: Can't wait! Alright, before we wrap up, we have 5 Outsider Questions we love to ask. You ready?
R: Ready.

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5 Outsider Questions:

1. What are five things in your fridge?
R: Organic eggs, some old funky Tostito chips, white wine, Coke Zero, honey mustard & BBQ sauce.
2. What about NY freaks you out?
R: The way people get on and off the train. They push, shove, knock you on or off. It's crazy!
3. What's your ideal NY Cheap Date?
Going to a diner, getting a turkey burger and having great conversation.
4. Favorite NY Icon?
R: Riverside Church. I remember seeing it once flying over the city. That always charges me up to do it all better.
5. Where do you go to escape NY?
R: If I can't go home, I go to my room with a glass of wine, a lit candle and dream. Sometimes with my eyes open, sometimes closed. To reflect helps me escape.

Outsider: Well done! It was great talking to you and I look forward to seeing you perform again.
Ranardo: Thanks Jose, it was fun!
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Here's what the other Outsiders had to say:

Jessica: Young and talented is a great place to start, but I agree with you Ranardo, if you can't bring a specific human experience to the art than it's just textbook, or theory. In jazz, it's just a bunch of notes with no story, no soul. BORING!

Deena: Talk about Preacher Teacher! Renardo's embarrassment answer is really so profound! If only every other humans could let go of their ego, even a little... If we learn lessons from out mistakes the instant that we make them, we'll become stronger and better and are likely to never make those mistakes again. If we get embarrassed at our insecurities, we'll just slip right into self-pity-parties, and no one wants to be invited to one of those! life is so much more beautiful in the moment. Thank you Renardo for waking me up this morning!

Cindy: Ranardo's passion is exactly what it takes to make it in this city. Although being in NYC is so inspiring, it's not easy being an artist here...

Tags: Jose, new yorker