Ray Mercer choreographs Pure Motion, an eclectic benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
By Brandon Voss
Prepared to be moved by Pure Motion, an evening of contemporary pieces by prolific New York choreographer Ray Mercer. Produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Pure Motion, which has two performances February 29 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater, features dancers from Broadway shows like An American in Paris, Wicked, and The Lion King. Mercer, a winner of Joffrey Ballet’s Choreographers of Color Award and a longtime veteran of The Lion King himself, gives us the scoop on the sexy, soulful, and socially conscious event.
Next: Tell me about Pure Motion.
Ray Mercer: It’s really exciting for me because it’s the first time I’m presenting a full evening of my work. I’ve actually won the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Gypsy of the Year competition more than any other choreographer, so they decided to present some of my work from those benefits from the past years. I took five of those pieces and created two new works.
Is there an underlying theme to the evening?
It’s pretty eclectic, but I do like to touch on social issues. In the world we live in, especially with social media, we tend to get caught up on things that aren’t really important. We don’t communicate the way we used to. So if there’s any theme to the evening, it’s about getting back to human connection.
What are the two pieces that you created specifically for this event?
One is a women’s piece set to Broadway star Morgan James’ soulful cover of “Roxanne” by The Police. I’ve also created a sexual, provocative piece about human relations — how we touch, how we like to be touched, and what it’s like to experience another person. Steven Taylor, who stars as Mufasa in The Lion King, is doing a spoken word at the beginning of it.
You have a long history with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, don’t you?
I’ve been on Broadway for almost 14 years now, and I’ve been working with Broadway Cares on their benefits for almost as long. I feel like it’s my family. It’s an organization that’s very close to my heart, because HIV/AIDS affects so many people, and they help so many people.
Almost 14 years in The Lion King? That’s a big chunk of your circle of life!
[Laughs] Yeah, I know. They’re checking the history books, because I might be the longest running male ensemble member ever at this point. The Lion King and Disney have been very good to me. I always say that the minute I stop having fun, I’m going to leave. But I’m still having a great time.
Next, Feburary 2016.