Paul Leo : Your location for the shooting of Quarantine has a unique historical significance
to the project. Can you explain the 17th Century location’s history?

Gabri Christa : This film is the first in a series that puts dance in historically important places. The series is called "ANOTHER BUILDING” dancing. Quarantine is # 1. The building was used to quarantine slaves that were en route to the Americas. The ones that died were dumped overboard and the sick ones came here. Curaçao was a very important slave depot. I really wanted to do something to expose both buildings with important histories (globally) and dance. The buildings are not too obvious, but just get people curious. Since my first screenings I have had a lot of interest from people in the historical aspect as well, and am now working on a DVD which will include a very short bonus documentary.

Paul Leo: You are based in New York, but the film was shot in Curaçao, in the Dutch Caribbean. Where did most of the preparation for the film take place?

Gabri Christa : Most of the pre-production took place in New York but we did rehearse on site for a while, first just Dolph van Stapele and I and then with the performers.

Paul Leo: Kyle Abraham did his own choreography for the film. How did you come to work with him on this
project?
?
 

Gabri Christa :I was looking for someone who could play opposite Marcel Stomp. I had this idea for a while of a male and female and a younger and older character. I was initially going to choreograph it myself, but when I found Kyle (I saw him perform) and saw his existing choreography, I asked him to work with me and also to let me change his choreography. I never resolved how to credit it all since I changed a lot around and made new stuff, so I decided just to leave it this way.

Paul Leo: The performers Marcel Stomp and Kyle Abraham have a visual chemistry together, which works extraordinarily well. Were you surprised at all by how well they complemented each other?

Gabri Christa : No - I had hoped it would work well, but it is always a risk. I know Marcel well of course so that was not such a big chance. He is my Dad! and I just knew right away when I met Kyle that this was a guy who he could work with him and also who resembled him physically..

Paul Leo: The film was both edited and photographed by Dolph van Stapele. What
did he bring to the project in those dual roles?

 

Gabri Christa: I think it helped the speed of the editing process. He was involved from the beginning. We work very well together and planned a lot together, so as regards shooting he already knew what we were shooting for the edit. I just wrapped a new film with him (two days ago!) called Savoneta. I hope he can edit this one too but I still have to raise post-production money and we live quite far from each other, so for this one it doesn't look like it will be possible..

Dance On Film News: The film was composed by your husband Vernon Reid, who is a very successful recording artist in his own right. How much did you use his experience on the film beyond the recording
studio?


Gabri Christa : Well Vernon and I have collaborated before on performance work, so it was easy to make this happen. He has done quite a few soundtracks as a composer. In the final version which you haven't seen yet there is more of his music.

Paul Leo: You have an excellent Dizzee Rascal vocal on the film, which gives it a powerful underscore. How important was it to have that vocal accompany the dance ?

Gabri Christa : The vocal was important to the movie too, because we filmed with it. In the final version I didn’t leave that much of his vocals in. I think the final cut is a more "filmic" and stronger version, because it mixes life sounds, Vernon’s music, Dizzee and traditional Tambu music to give the whole thing a sense of place.

Dance On Film News: You have travelled extensively from Puerto Rico and Cuba to the Netherlands and the USA. How is the film being received in screenings outside the USA?

Gabri Christa :I have had only one screening outside the States so far and it was extremely powerful. It seems that somehow it is cultural after all, because folks in Curaçao really got all the layers right away. I started sending the film to other festivals in December and still have to find out which ones it will get into.

Dance On Film News: You have a successful career as a dancer as well. Are you concentrating on
more performances or on films at present?

Gabri Christa : I am really focussing on film although I still perform and teach. In the film I recently wrapped I dance as well and also choreographed it. That won't happen again soon, but I am happy with the results. The film will be in the permanent collection of a new museum and the curator insisted that I be in it :-)

Thank you for these thoughtful questions and taking the time to watch the film.