JKARIS DANCE FILMS & COLLABORATIONS

RENDER SPACE Navigating the weight of identity while on a journey in search of authenticity, Black women dare to carve out a space for themselves in their bodies and the world. Created by Jessica Ray and Cayla Mae Simpson in Oklahoma City, OK the film Render Space is a symbolic mirror of the collective trials of Black women. Images of strength, softness, and sensuality invite us to open our minds to a reality where limiting expectations can be altered and released.

Concept/Choreography/Direction: Jessica Ray and Cayla Mae Simpson

Cast: Cayla Mae Simpson and Jessica Ray

Director of Photography: Jake Kelley

Musical Composition: Cameron McKinney

Vocal Composition and Reitation: Kiara A'lon Wade

Text: Jessica Ray

Editors: Jessica Ray and Cayla Mae Simpson

Colorist: Cayla Simpson

Produced by: Jkaris Creative LLC and Cayla Mae Simpson

Render Space had its premiere in Garrison, NY at Phillipstown Depot Theater. Our film has also been screened by CreateArt in Brooklyn NY, and had its Oklahoma City premiere at the 2023 Juneteenth festival.

Please reach out to Jessica Ray: jkaris.ray@gmail.com for screenings.

STORIED/FRAME/ASSEMBLY came about because Ray and Karl have a longstanding friendship and wanted to work together to create a film as they thought they were leaving New York City indefinitely in fall of 2020. They viewed this piece as a possible closure of their time together and as dance artists in New York. Filmed in 3 separate locations in Williamsburg, Brookyn, this piece blurs the lines of duet and dance. While the film has many interpretations, both artists encourage you to listen closely to the body story exploring time, partnership, and space.

Concept: Jessica Ray

Movement and Film: Mary Karl and Jessica Ray

Music and Sound Design: Nicole Ranalli

Please reach out to Jessica Ray: jkaris.ray@gmail.com for screenings.

BRAIN BLOW is work reflecting the state of our brains in 2020. An abstract commentary on surviving both a pandemic and an election while navigating the intense division and disinformation of this American era.

Concept + Direction: Jessica Ray

Direction: Nate Reininga

Choreography by Jessica Ray in collaboration with the dancers

Dancers: Ashli Bickford, Megan Guinta, Nina Chong-Jiminez, Jessica Ray & Cayla Simpson

Videography: Nate Reininga, Ashli Bickford & Cody Buesing

Editing: Jessica Ray

Produced by: Jkaris Creative LLC

photo by Cherylynn Tsushima

ON EGO is our first collaboration with parkour. This short is a meditation on the inward dialogue we have with our ego, and how we bargain to remain in control.

Direction: Jessica Ray
Produced by: Jkaris Creative LLC
Cinematography: Steve Zavitz
Choreography: Jessica Ray & Cayla Simpson
Parkour Movement: Jesse Danger
Movement Artists: Jesse Danger & Cayla Simpson
Music: Dive Reflex Service
limbotapes.bandcamp.com/album/01
Editing: Jessica Ray
Quotation: Cullen Hightower

LOOSE: a visual poem

Choreography, Direction & Concept: Jessica Ray
Collaborators/Dancers: Hannah Crown, Kirby Glass, Casey LaVres, Jessica Ray
Music: Thrice
Video: Steve Zavitz
Editing & Words: Jessica Ray

Her strands are tangling
Everyw h e r e
catching and snagging
on unknown s u r f a c e s
Restriction persists
tightening into a c o i l.
as strength gives way,
as the circle completes,
she gains the will to loose the bind.

COLLABORATIONS

VACUUM is a collaboration between Nina Chong Jimenez and Jessica Ray/Dance into Deliverance.

Concept: Nina Chong Jimenez
Choreography: Nina Chong Jimenez
Direction: Nina Chong Jimenez & Jessica Ray
Produced by: Nina Chong Jimenez & Dance into Deliverance
Duet: Marion Helfenstein & Sofia Do Mar
Corps: Gabriel Eden Berger, Yu Fujiwara, Sofia Kezevadze, Anja Neukomm, Giorgia Riccardi,
Hunter Sturgis, Annie White
Cinematography: Steve Zavitz & Jesse Iskowitz
Editor: Jessica Ray
Lighting: Jesse Iskowitz
Costume Design: Nina Chong Jimenez
Production Assistant: Evelyn Rodriguez-Chong
Music: Dark Ambience/Cave Sounds, Guild of Ambience