We recently connected with CRAIG HOLLAMON and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, CRAIG thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?
I am very happy with being a creative artist. I’ve never had an office job or a job where I sat at desk. I’m an active and creative person and have always thrived when I get to use my full body and brain. There have been little side gigs here and there outside of the creative gigs but I still only chose ones that literally kept me on my toes because growing up a dancer, that’s where we learned to shift our weight for better balance.
CRAIG , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m originally from St. Louis, MO and growing up there from the age of 6 I was training in dance, all styles from Ballet to Acrobatics to Hip Hop. I never played sports or did any extracurricular activities, just Dance. After graduating high school I knew I wanted to be a Professional Dancer and eventually become a Choreographer so I moved to LA because that’s where all the work was. Networking, taking classes, and auditioning I met all the right people which got me started w touring, music videos, television shows, movies, and national commercials. Eventually that all becomes alot the older we get. Getting the opportunity to assist choreographers showed me that I had what it takes to creative my own visions so I began to teach my own classes which lead me to meeting my business partner Lindsey Blaufarb. We have now been a creative team together for over 20 years and was recently nominated for an Emmy for our choreography in the movie musical Blue’s Big City Adventure which is a Nickelodeon & Blues Clues film. We have also choreographed / directed tours, stage shows, music videos and more such as The Masked Singer, Pentatonix, Ricky Martin, Karol G, Jacob Collier, and etc.
Outside of the Film & Television work, I am also a DJ, playing only vinyl records at bars, clubs, late night warehouse parties, raves, and festivals across the US. This has been a passion of mine where I began to collect records about 15 years ago. I love that it is still keeps me connected to music, my body, mind & dance and that I still get to share my love for the them in a new way that is less physical but just as spiritual. So far, I have played at festivals like EDC in Las Vegas, Honcho Campout in Pittsburgh, and Movement in Detroit. I’ll be traveling more this year to play out but I also have a monthly radio show on Dublab Radio, every first Wednesday of the month, called CLUB CRAIG where I share music from my record collection in a 2 hr time slot where I mostly play House, Disco, Techno and other styles of Club & Dance music. It is apparent my love for music and dance thru these mediums I have chosen to take on as careers and hobbies as well. My father is a DJ and my mother LOVES to dance to this day.
Outside of the above mentioned skills, I also have a love for cameras and photos. I’ve found a lot of comfort in taking photos and videos of myself, family, friends, fashion, landscape, nature, and city life. It makes sense as to why as I am always working with others on projects as a Choreographer and Creative Director. This leads me to wanting to create my own stories & visuals in my own way. I have so many people around me w great style and ideas and I love to create with friends.
Lastly, last year I started these House Dance Class Sessions for late night party people looking to build more community around the music and art we love so much. I rent us studio space to gather in and I teach and help people find their inner groove so that they are more comfortable w taking up the space they hold on dance floors. Its really fun and wholesome and everyone comes in and really gets to get an uplifting soul shifting dance workout for 1.5 hours & meet some new friends. I really enjoy this so much as it really brings people together to celebrate our bodies TOGETHER.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is just getting the chance to authentically be myself. To explore all the ideas I have be able to go for them and see them come to life, whether they fail or not, is very important to me. Like, the fact that I get to wear so many hats and thrive in them, I wouldn’t survive if this were not the case. One job w no creativity would slowly bring me closer to death, no joke. When I learned about Jean-Michel Basquiat and how he lived his artist life painting, being in a band, making fashion, graffiti, and modeling, I knew that I wanted to do the same but different.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I dont know. I feel like my mission these days is just bringing people together one way or another to connect and build a stronger community here in LA. “Music makes the people come together!!” This city can feel very isolating and bring people down. But I also think COME ON ITS LA. It can be such as beautiful place if we use it to its full potential. This is why I’m doing Club Craig Community so that people can come together and meet other like minded people who are all looking for more ways to connect. I want to figure out (if its at all possible) to do more block parties, music in the parks and events at or near train stations to bring more energy into different neighborhoods and communities around Los Angeles. Dance is healing, so I think we should all do more of that!!!!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @coloredcraig
- Twitter: @coloredcraig
- Other: Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/coloredcraig Talent Agency – https://www.blocagency.com/talent/lindsey-craig
Image Credits
Louise Flores Harriet Brown Philipp Goppert