In anticipation of this year’s edition of Choreographers’ Evening on Nov. 24 (7 and 9:30 pm), we asked this year’s curator, choreographer Emily Johnson, to answer eight questions for our 8-Ball feature in the Walker magazine. She graciously answered far more, so in the spirit of the infrequent “Behind the 8-Ball” blog feature, here’s eight more.
What’s your most embarrassing moment?
Years ago. Erin Thompson’s class here in Minneapolis, Mathew Janczweski, and a hole in my dance pants I had forgotton about.
What global issue most excites or angers you?
The human capacity for destruction is pretty disheartening… but watching the earth try to balance itself is impelling and seeing people make things out of nothing is, for me, the most exciting thing in the world.
Which creative talent would you most like to have?
I wish I knew Yup’ik dancing. And I wish I could sing. And I wish I could do back-flips.
If you could throw a dinner party for anyone in the world, who would you invite?
I wouldn’t want to throw it, but I’d love to attend The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago. I’d ask Angie Vo to design my dress…
What’s your favorite recording of all time?
Song? In the Stars by JG Everest.
Album? Ether Teeth by Fog.
What is your advice for young people today?
Don’t have sex. Ha Ha. How stupid is that?
What’s your most vivid Minneapolis memory?
On the bank of the Mississippi, down by the U of M hospital, before it became a parking lot. I was laying on the grass looking at the skyline of downtown, and the buildings got really huge — they inflated like columns of clouds and it felt like they were enveloping me, protecting me in a way. Weird, I know, and I wasn’t even on anything.
I knew I would stay in Minneapolis a while to see what it meant.
Name one surprising aspect of your morning ritual.
I’m surprised my coffee isn’t delivered to me in bed every morning.
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