Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gabrielle Lansner. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Gabrielle, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project that I have worked on to date is my short film, I AM NOT OK. In June 2020, following the death of George Floyd, I came across a Facebook Live post by my friend and colleague, Tiffiney Davis. Ms. Davis is the Executive Director of the Red Hook Art Project, a free art and mentoring program for low-income youth based in Red Hook, Brooklyn, where I had been mentoring and volunteering for several years.

From her kitchen, in the thick of the Covid pandemic, Ms. Davis spoke about her outrage at the unending killings of Black Americans, the protests and her fears for her son. It was an impassioned plea and call to her community and to the world at large to protect the lives of Black children.

My heart was pierced by her words and her pain. This is what spurred me on to create I AM NOT OK.

I immediately asked Ms. Davis if I could use her words in my film. She said absolutely.

I then reached out to Pat Hall, a long-time collaborator. We had worked together on a dance/ theater piece about the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2004 and she also portrayed Tina Turner in “River Deep,” an original musical about the iconic singer. She too was on board to work on the project.

Along with dancer Dahsir Hausif, we spent many months in the dance studio working on the movement and discussing the issues. We also met with Tiffiney to share our progress, to experiment with her text and to share our feelings surrounding the work.

I AM NOT OK is the film I created in collaboration with Tiffiney, Pat, Dahsir and our composer, Philip Hamilton. The film has been screening at film festivals since 2022. Currently it is on view at the Brooklyn Museum in the Brooklyn Artists Exhibition. Screening daily in the Video Room at 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:30 (on a loop with other films) until January 26, 2025.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am an award winning filmmaker and critically acclaimed choreographer based in Brooklyn, NY. For over 30 years, I have explored artistic disciplines, moving from pure dance works, to dance/theater, to film. I have always been interested in story and character: creating emotionally complex and layered works that delve into the heart and psyche.

I began dancing at the age of 10, studying at Juilliard in their preparatory department. I was fortunate to study modern dance with Pearl Lang, Pat Birch and ballet with Alfredo Corvino. Pearl Lang, who had danced with Martha Graham, was my mentor and was the first teacher with whom I studied choreography. I attended the Purchase College Dance Department and then went on to study experimental theater at NYU.

In 1997, I formed my dance/theater company, gabrielle lansner & company. The works have been produced at The Peter Jay Sharp Theater, The Duke on 42nd Street, HERE, River to River Festival, P.S 122, The Joyce Soho, to name a few and have toured the US and Canada.

The company’s varied explorations include delving into the lives of Holocaust victims in the literary works of Bertolt Brecht and Cynthia Ozick, exploring adolescent yearning in Carson McCullers’ “The Member of the Wedding”, examining the nature of forgiveness in a work inspired by the South African Truth & Reconciliation Commission, and celebrating the life of pop icon Tina Turner in my original musical “RIVER DEEP.”

I am most interested in creating work that is visceral, and touches peoples’ hearts and souls.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

There are two major aspects to being a creative soul. Both equally important.
The most rewarding part of creating live performance work is the rehearsal process and the collaboration that occurs in the rehearsal room. It’s the interaction, creativity and trust that is created with the performers and other artistic collaborators. We go into an empty room with an idea and then through discussion, improvisation, listening deeply we create something new.

The other most rewarding element is bringing the work to an audience and hearing from them how they have been affected by the work : getting feedback and having a conversation.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Presently, I am very invested in having as many people see our new short film, I AM NOT OK, which is a Black mother’s painful and powerful lament on raising her children in America today. This experimental film with dance and spoken word raises many issues about the injustices toward Blacks and references the death of George Floyd, Eric Garner, Breonna Taylor and many more. I want to screen the film and have discussions with audiences young and old to bring awareness and community engagement surrounding the issues.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gabriellelansner.com
• Instagram: gabrielle_lansner
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gabrielle.lansner
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielle-lansner-07b09620/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV2sWo5e_gkL_0BMgKZAShg
• Other: https://vimeo.com/user8785988

Image Credits

My headshot: Hanifa Haris-Taucher
Other photos: Arina Voronova