We recently connected with Kasey Broekema and have shared our conversation below.
Kasey, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
In today’s art community, terms like “collaborative” and “immersive” are often overused and undervalued. We challenge these buzzwords by ensuring that every collaboration, every choice, is made with intention and carefully curated. Nothing is left to chance or randomness in our process. Each project is approached with meticulous care and attention to detail.
Project III believes there’s room for all forms of art. While we appreciate traditional art forms, we strive to break free from conventional boundaries. We’re not satisfied with simply placing a painting on a wall and having dancers perform in front of it. While there are spaces for that, and we love to see it and support it in all of its beauty, we instead aim for complete synergy in every project, where every participant wholly contributes their unique perspective and expertise.
Our collaborative environment operates like a round table, where everyone’s voice is valued and heard. Regardless of background or level of experience, every participant is encouraged to share their ideas and contribute to the creative process. We believe that by embracing diverse perspectives, we can create art that resonates deeply with audiences from all walks of life.
Ultimately, our goal is to cultivate a beginner’s mindset in our audience—one of curiosity, openness, and pure appreciation for art. By bringing together individuals with varying degrees of engagement with movement and art, we hope to create transformative experiences that inspire and uplift.
We encourage our audiences to check out our digital archive of collaborative works! I love referring to our Copenhagen NOPLACE collaboration facilitated by our artist Lily Cosgrove and featuring Kazuki Mitsunaga. It was unique for us because not only were we filming abroad and the video was made as an experiment tailored to premiere exclusively on our social channels, but also because it was fun to flip the tables. Kazuki – the concept artist – was the one featured on camera and Lily – the dancer – was the one behind the camera prompting the movement directions. By encouraging our artists to explore their form outside of their traditional roles and expectations, I hope we inspire our audience to engage with performing arts genres in new ways.
Kasey, 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?
In a way, my journey to creating Project III began with a leap of faith on my sixteenth birthday, taking my very first taxi ride in New York City with a bag filled with pointe shoes and hopes to one day become a professional ballerina. While many aspects of that life are still with me, 10 years later, my creative journey could not have landed me any further from where I imagined myself. While my dream was to sign a contract with a company, I never imagined I would stumble upon the immense responsibility of nurturing a multidisciplinary dance organization myself. The boundless creativity and vibrant energy of this city have helped me realize I don’t have to be signed with a company or work with big brand names to identify as a professional artist. I’m enjoying the unexpected ride of forging my path – and hopefully, a path other artists can empathize with and follow.
Project III was born from my observation that artists are extremely multi-talented by nature, but we don’t always have the opportunities to explore other facets of our artistic outlets outside of the comfort of privacy or a side hustle Instagram page. On an introspective level, I’ve always seen myself as more than just a dancer; I’m an academic, a storyteller, and a creative at heart. This hunger to create in multidisciplinary environments that I’ve observed is lacking in our industries fuels everything we do at Project III. We’re not just a dance company or a production house; we’re a dynamic community of artists pushing the boundaries of how a performing arts organization can operate. We embrace creativity in all its forms, and that’s why every Project we undertake is a multidisciplinary adventure, bringing together artists from all walks of life to create something truly special. At Project III, we’re not afraid to question the status quo or push the boundaries of what’s possible. We believe art has the power to transform lives and communities, and we’re committed to making that a reality.
What sets Project III apart is our commitment to collaboration and inclusivity. We’re not interested in following the status quo; we’re here to challenge it. Our Projects are born from a place of genuine inspiration, bringing together artists from diverse backgrounds to create something uniquely magical. We encourage an artist – ranging from emerging to established – of any profession to approach us with a movement-based concept. Project III then pairs that artist with an in-house facilitator and a collaborator with an artist, institution, or art form outside of their comfort zone. We then produce the Project, which can encompass a wide range of experiences from digital films, panel discussions, networking events, community nights, dance parties, immersive experiences, traditional stage performances, and more.
Since our inception, Project III has grown into a thriving community of over 48 artists across three countries, with 11 Projects under our belt and counting. Our success isn’t just measured in numbers; it’s measured by the impact we have on our audiences. I’m humbled by the fact our live events have attracted an audience as diverse in age, race, sexuality, culture, religion, and background as our artists are and I think there’s something really beautiful about walking into a room where everyone is able to appreciate and connect between the same art. I hope to continue to cultivate this community as we have just kickstarted our second year of activities.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Whenever I’m faced with saying something inspirational or giving advice, I’ll admit, I get a bit uneasy. It’s my first time on earth, going through life, along with everyone else, and who am I to say anything other than speaking to my humble experiences – but I think many artists can relate to that feeling. It’s through being vulnerable and honest and sharing and listening to each other’s journeys that we can all help each other grow.
However, there’s one piece of advice that has stuck with me and I feel compelled to pay it forward: Never stop making your art. It’s the most important thing artists, creatives, and enthusiasts can do—continue sharing your art with the world. Stop comparing yourself and your art to others. Don’t set a giant expectation for yourself. I have to check my own self constantly on that and slap myself on the wrist a little. We can all exist and create art, attend it, observe it, and celebrate our peers’ achievements. Art isn’t about being the best, it’s about expressing something inexpressible in other forms – and what better way to share those stories than through each individual’s lived experiences? It’s these diverse experiences that cultivate empathy and understanding in our society. By engaging with art, whether it’s visual, auditory, or experiential, we open ourselves up to new ways of seeing, hearing, and understanding the world. As someone now in a leadership role within an organization, I’ve come to realize the importance of listening first, observing, and speaking last. In the midst of all the noise, there’s value in finding that stillness, where genuine connections and understanding can flourish.
So, to support artists and nurture a thriving creative ecosystem, let’s encourage each other to keep creating, keep sharing, and keep listening. It’s through this collective effort that we can truly celebrate and uplift the richness of our creative community.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Before Project III, I hit a low point where continuing with art and dance felt impossible. I had poured my heart and soul into dance with dreams of signing a contract with a classical ballet company. At 20-years-old, I was practically facing homelessness with no sustainable income and the reality hit hard. I couldn’t afford classes, let alone continue what felt like a hopeless investment in pursuing a career in dance that didn’t love me back. It seemed like my only option was to give up on my passion and settle for a corporate job.
So, I began to do what I thought I had to do. I worked at a bar as I finished my English degree, I have dabbled in journalism, PR, and arts nonprofit management, worked the nine-five and the around-the-clock hustle all while longing to be part of the dance community again. When I began to work with dance companies and institutions on the administrative side (and picking up the occasional background or extra role) it hurt to be so close to something I loved – and knew I could do well – yet unable to participate fully. Directors of the programs were always kind enough to invite me to take classes with the companies, but started asking me, “Why don’t you just make your own company? You do it for us, why don’t you do it yourself?”
It sounded crazy at first. How could I, with no money, no savings, and no dance career accolades, possibly make it happen? Secondly, I never had the dream nor the ego to create the Kasey Broekema Dance Company. I’m not a choreographer, I don’t have a clear personal artistic vision in mind. That was never anything I wanted. Then came Project III. It started with just a few no-budget, do-it-yourself Projects with my friends across the industry which resulted in what felt like making trash art and throwing it into the void. But what I didn’t expect was the thunderous response that echoed back.
The first Project I made – unbeknownst to me, at the time, that it was going to kickstart this wild adventure – I found a song that inspired me and everything was there in my head like a vision. The cast of dancers, the lights, the camera direction, the choreography, the costumes, the setting, where it would be, and how it would be done. The whole concept just materialized in my hippocampus like a bright neon Hollywood sign and it all materialized in front of me over the next two weeks, as easily as if it was meant to be. Even the dancers I cast in my little vision all happened to be passing through New York and were down to experiment. I was able to choreograph on a former New York City ballet dancer, a contemporary and street dancer who got her start on the Lion King tour, and a photojournalist and former dancer. There was something about having these creatives in the space who would have never gotten to work together in their artistic lanes, that felt so trustworthy and magical while producing it. On the shoot day, we did several one-takes and instantly knew when we had the perfect run. There’s, I think, a shot of us all jumping up and down and hugging each other immediately after that take, and I believe that uncontained joy was because we silently realized we had stumbled across something extremely special.
Over the next couple of months, I rediscovered my own creative agency and started making things with people and communities in an environment that felt safe to experiment in different genres that they were never called “professionals” in because they couldn’t lock in that opportunity or were in a different industry. One thing led to another, our social media started picking up, and we started getting cold emails from other artists and larger corporations wanting to be a part of it all. Our first unofficial Project was in August 2022, and we incorporated by March 2023.
I was inspired to take the jump because I realized I wasn’t alone; there were others like me craving an outlet. Project III became a beacon of hope, a community where artists could come together, support each other, and create something meaningful. It wasn’t just about me anymore; it was about nurturing this newfound community and helping others realize their artistic dreams.
Sure, managing Project III has its challenges—juggling finances, navigating unexpected responsibilities, and managing artists’ expectations. But amidst the chaos, there’s beauty. The growth, the connections, the sense of belonging—it’s all worth it.
I hope that my journey with Project III inspires others to persevere, to chase their dreams, no matter how daunting they may seem. If we’ve come this far in just one year – 11 Projects, 48 artists, three countries – who knows what the future holds? With resilience and determination, I believe Project III will continue to thrive, shaping a new future for artists everywhere.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://piii.tilda.ws/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/project.iii/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@project.iii.
- Other: Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kasey.broekema/
Image Credits
Gabi Broekema, Esther Heath, Project III, Kierney McAllister, Torey Renz.