Gabriel speiller’s vision for nyc

• Who is Gabriel Speiller?

  Speiller is a freelance choreographer based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas who’s choreography will be premiered at Pointeworks’ NYC Tour. His dance career has taken him across the country, performing with companies such as Bruce Wood Dance Dallas, Paul Taylor II, and Ad Deum Dance Company. He holds both a BFA and MFA in dance and pedagogy from top universities and has served as a visiting professor at Texas Christian University.

  Speiller’s choreography has been showcased across the U.S. by major companies and universities, with performances at renowned venues like the Joyce Theater and Jacob’s Pillow. Known for highlighting his dancers' unique strengths and humanity, Gabriel's work creates deeply expressive and individual performances. His choreographic talent earned him a spot at the highly selective Choreographic Fellowship at Jacob’s Pillow, where he collaborated with many artists including dancers from Dance Theatre of Harlem. This connection ultimately inspired him to pursue a creative collaboration with Pointeworks.

• Gabriel’s vision for his piece:

  Regarding the creation of his new piece, Gabriel is most inspired by his selection of dancers including Ingrid Silva, Lindsey Donnell, Elias Re, and Luis Prachar-Rego. These four dancers are exceptionally talented and hail from the esteemed company Dance Theatre of Harlem. Gabriel is also inspired by his choice of music by composer Oliver Davis, graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and who’s work has been danced to by New York City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Ballet West. In an interview, Speiller describes his choreographic process as having a deep understanding of the music and the musical and visual arches he wants to create within the time frame. He also is excited to utilize the medium of pointe shoes. He says he is interested in experimenting with the physical elements of pointe shoes such as the ability to glide and spin quickly due to less friction.

  Gabriel envision’s using the concept of a voyage as a springboard for his new work. Inspired by his dancers, music, and medium of pointe shoes Pointeworks is thrilled to have Gabriel’s choreography grace the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater in March at the NYC Tour.

Photo courtesy of Jacob's Pillow by Chistopher Duggan

• Costumes:

  World renowned costume designer Susan Roemer is collaborating with Gabriel Speiller on a costume concept for his piece that highlights the individuality of each dancer. Gabriel came to Susan with the concept of the voyage, both of an individual and of a group. This lead to a color palette of blues and yellows with use of mesh. Speiller costumes that simple and defiant that compliment his dancers complexions and highlight their lines. Spieller adds that he enjoys “costumes with texture” because it can be another “entry point for an audience member”. He says “when I create a work, I ideally want to have as many entry points as possible” so that audience members can have the highest possibility of relating to something on the stage. Costumes play a big role in the communication of a piece, and Pointeworks is thrilled to have Susan paired with Gabriel to create a costume set that is truly effective.

• Get Involved:

  Gabriel Spieller’s piece will be available to watch at all three performances in the Pointeworks NYC Tour the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater on March 21st and 22nd. Gabriel’s piece will also be available to view at an open rehearsal and the Baryshnikov Arts Center where Pointeworks invites you to experience an intimate look into the rehearsal of professional dancers. This rehearsal will showcase Gabriel’s coaching and choreographic process as well as the dancers in their most raw form. There will also be a Q&A with dancers and Gabriel at the end of the rehearsal to deepen your open rehearsal experience.