Inside the Pillow Lab: Rokafella and Kwikstep

Inside the Pillow Lab is an intimate new film series that captures works in process and behind-the-scenes moments of what it’s like for artists to live, work, and rehearse together again in COVID-compliant residencies on the Pillow’s retreat-like campus. During this Pillow Lab residency, Kwikstep and Rokafella took time to look over their choreographic body of work to extract inspiring phrases and build a new duet that celebrates the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop. CREATORS AND DANCERS: Rokafella and Kwikstep ABOUT ROCKAFELLA Rokafella began dancing in school talent shows and eventually as a background dancer for local artists. She has roots as a street performer (hitter) and has appeared in various music videos and films. She is the Managing Director of Full Circle Souljahs Dance Company and is a professor at The New School. She directed a documentary about B-girls entitled All The Ladies Say and has a collaborative t-shirt line, ShiRoka, with Japanese graffiti writer Shiro. Rokafella is a well-known advocate for women in hip hop and brings her Nuyorican aesthetic into the cypha, stage, and classroom. ABOUT KWIKSTEP Kwikstep began dancing as a child and grew to join the ranks of well-known street dancers and breakers who traveled around the world sharing the ethos of hip hop culture as it evolved. He has been featured in popular music videos, films, and commercials, and has choreographed hip hop theater performances. Full Circle Souljahs is a nonprofit dance company that he founded in 1992 to help preserve and embrace the culture and lifestyle of hip hop in NYC. He also DJs open format dance parties and produces music for shows and local MCs. He recently became a professor at Queens College in New York City and does guest lectures about hip hop’s roots and influences. Follow them on Instagram at @DJKS360 and @larokafella and on their dance company website, fullcirclesouljahs.com. FILMING: Erica Spizz NEL SHELBY PRODUCTIONS Nel Shelby, Producer Ashli Bickford, Editor Benjamin Richards, Graphic Animation Sonia Bartolomeo The 2022-2023 PILLOW LAB RECEIVES LEADERSHIP SUPPORT FROM: The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation © 2023 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Inc.