SUBJECT-MICAELA TAYLOR of THE TL COLLECTIVE
Micaela makes movement with incredible openness and true love. Watching the TL Collective perform, feels like you’re on a journey through her emotions and internal tensions, an experience equal parts thumping energy and remarkable discipline.
In short, Micaela creates movement in a category all its own, a true representation of the diverse styles she's honed from a young age.
THE OBJECT-ROSE BALLET TIGHTS
Micaela broke through at age 12, when she being the only female dancer of color in a renowned ballet organization had to find her own way.
The moment in these ballet tights, when she walked into her first professional ballet class. Her eyes were opened to how far she had to go and she welcomed the challenge. Previously only keen on hip-hop, modern and jazz, she was now thrust into a world of far more advanced and archetypal ballet dancers.
In the beginning she tried to be a people pleaser but when she decided to no longer fight her impulses, things changed. She used to shy away from what felt natural because it felt out of context. She wasn't comfortable being confined to hip-hop, jazz or modern movement, so she decided to stretch herself dancing all over the stereotypes to
create a new movement language.
Is it Hip hop or Classical? It's Micaela, and it's remarkable.
LOVE - THE TL COLLECTIVE
The "TL," in TL Collective stands for To Love.
The word love has lost its value—it’s tossed around so freely. People talk about loving pizza or loving to go shopping and other things like that. I wanted to make love an atmosphere for my dance company. We express it on a higher wavelength that's free from the human conflicts within typical competitive group settings. Moving above manipulation, jealously , and reaching a place of unity where we can freely respond to each other's energy.
-M
IMPULSE AS PROCCESS - FAST GROWTH
"When we come together in a space we only have two hours every time they meet, so decisions get made fast. We are immediate and impulsive. We've learned to respond to our internal triggers."
-M
This harkens back to her having to learn fast, getting up to speed in the world of professional ballet. She has crafted a development process rooted in love, connection, and impulse. And, not overthinking and always doing more. The group really understands one another, so the movements flow free.
"I can literally anticipate my dancer's impulses. We always enter the studio open, I'm inspired by the group and can even imagine myself in their bodies. I stretch them and they challenge me"
-M
Having balanced her own inner tensions has translated into the group's signature style. That's rooted in pushing limits, and sensitivity to going with what feels right and embracing uncertainty.
I realized it’s not all about having long legs, being the skinniest or the smallest, or doing a million perfect turns—it’s about where you take people with movement.
-M
ABOUT
The TL Collective was founded by Los Angeles dancer/choreographer Michaela Taylor, in 2016. Her ultimate goal was to create a dance company where the fusion of contemporary dance and theatrical hip hop intertwine. The company looks forward to setting work on Springboard Dance Montréal, Gibney Dance Company NY, and a Move to NYC. www.thetlcollective.com.
