A Little 'movmnt'

When I was approached to write for movmnt magazine several months ago, I must admit that I was more than a little nervous.  Writing has become a major part of my everyday routine, but there is a huge difference between blogging about my own life and reporting about other people and their work.  Through the nerves, I was able to tackle the challenge so graciously assigned to me by editor in chief David Benaym, and learn a thing or two in the process. 

In the issue, which just hit newsstands, I contributed two articles about two very different men: composer Nico Muhly, and dancer Kenny Wormald.  One has brown hair, one has brown hair.  One lives in New York, one lives in LA.  All of those superficial descriptions meant nothing in my mind compared to the key difference in my experience: one was an in person interview, one was an email interview. 

Never before had I been faced with the possibility of writing something about someone I had never even met!  It’s difficult enough to capture someone’s essence when you’ve spent your whole life with them; trying to do so through a series of video footage and letters on a screen is nearly impossible.  Yet that’s just what I love about writing- the challenge of making a coherent and engaging whole out of scattered puzzle pieces without a box to look at.  In the end I was very pleased with what I submitted as final drafts.  All there was to do was wait. 

I’ve come to learn that the time between submission and publication is almost more nerve-wracking than the creation process.  Suddenly it’s out of my hands and I’m unable to do much more revising, even if I have those moments of clarity that would have made all the difference when my fingers were pounding the keyboard a month before.   

What I received in the mail yesterday exceeded my expectations.  movmnt is still a fledgling publication (with six issues under its belt), but each successive issue becomes more assured, adds more star power, and builds its readership by leaps and bounds  The mission statement on the cover says “Fashion, dance, music and pop culture as a lifestyle,” which is a refreshing welcome to the arts publication world. 

It’s also giving young writers (like myself and fellow-Winger Taylor Gordon, who has a fantastic article about dancers dealing with injuries) a chance to flex their writing muscles.  All of this adds up to a publication that has its finger on the pulse of the young arts world, and one that’s not to be missed.  Pick up your copy at a Barnes and Noble or Universal News (in NYC) today!  Check out movmnt.com for more information. 

In other publication news, I also have a fun article in the current issue of Dance Spirit.  Once again, it was a refreshing change from writing about myself- I got to interview seven corps dancers from the country’s leading companies about their favorite corps ballets.  Pick up your copy today! 

Comments

[Taylor]

Congrats on the articles, Matt! Looks like The Winger led us both to a similar writing path with movmnt...and I was excited to see another piece by you in Dance Spirit when I got the new issue!

Congrats and hope all is well.
Keep writing,
Taylor G

[emily]

hey, good for you! well done.

[Natalie D.]

I hope the writing continues to go well. Sounds like you found yourself another passion!

[Alie]

Congrats, that's so exciting! I looked for the issue in Barnes and Noble the other day but couldn't find it. I'm going to go back though.. I can't wait to read the article!

[Cathy]

hey, congratulations, this is amazing! I'll se if I can read them both online!

[Rob]

Read the Dance Spirit article right at the studio right before class tonight, great job! I'll have to see if anyone here in Orange County carries Movmnt.

[delirium tremens]

congrats matt!
I cant wait to see the articles. And you! New york in just a few days now, yes???