Have you ever felt that life is so absurd that you're at a loss for words, even while grappling with a whirlwind of emotions? We thought, what could be better than dancing it all off? So we chatted with dancer and choreographer Kylie Venticinque. Read her thoughts, and most importantly, watch her dance!

If you could choreograph a dance to any song from your childhood, which would it be and why?

While my parents’ music taste leaned heavily into hip-hop—which I still appreciate to this day—nothing from their cd’s really comes to mind as something I’d want to choreograph to. However, I do remember the first music video I ever watched on YouTube as a kid: Lady Gaga’s Paparazzi (and I definitely knew my mom would rage if she knew I was watching that and probably even listening to Gaga in general). But secretly, I was obsessed with how weird and bizarre Gaga was. Even though I’m not typically into pop music, especially when it comes to choreography, I’ve always wanted to create something strange and bold to Paparazzi as a tribute to her.

What’s the most unusual inspiration you’ve had recently?

I was recently talking with a modern dance professor of mine, Chris Yon, about different dance theater companies, and he told me about a performance by the company Contraband that he saw when he was just 16. Towards the end of a piece the dancers begin aggressively chewing sardines, spitting them into their hands, and eventually stuffing them back into the cans; Chris went home that night literally smelling of sardines. While to most folks that probably sounds absolutely heinous and disgusting, it was genuinely so inspiring for me. It reminded me that there are no confines to what “dance” can be. I’m working on a big choreographic project right now, definitely pushing into uncharted territory for myself, and hearing about this performance definitely got me really excited and stirred up to get back into the studio.

If you could dance with any fictional character, who would it be and what style would you choose?

If I could dance with any fictional character I think it’d be Bella Baxter from the Yorgos Lanthimos film ‘Poor Things’ (one of my most favorite films). Bella Baxter, played by Emma Stone, is absolutely beaming with life and curiosity– she knows little to no limitations and attempts everything in life with her most honest self. I think I’d wanna do some loose and experimental version of the tango with Bella perhaps– would be a crazy time for sure and definitely memorable!

Please describe what you feel when you perform in one word.

Alive

If Trump and Harris had to dance together, what style would be the best fit for them?

I absolutely love this question, but wow you’ve definitely given me a tough one. I honestly think when two people have villainized each other in such an intense, almost primal way—like what we’re seeing in the country right now—I’d say the best fit would be a contact improv class. For those unfamiliar, contact improvisation is all about shared weight, trust, and constant physical connection. It requires you to literally lean on each other and move together in a way that forces you to let go of ego and control. It’s not about leading or dominating, but about finding balance and trust in the other person. I think Trump and Harris would benefit from some long, uncomfortable eye contact, deep breaths, and being forced to genuinely support each other's weight—both physically and mentally– And honestly, I’d pay good money to see them thrown into that experience, as I’m sure thousands of others would too!

Kylie Venticinque

Bill Fick

Jose Cruz