We were lucky to catch up with Bandeja Phillip recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Bandeja, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
Risk-taking has been my thing for as long as I can remember. I vividly recall my time at my old dance studio, yearning to join the older kids in their routines. I was just a 6-year-old, but I mustered the guts to ask my rather intimidating teacher if I could join them. I knew I had to prove myself in front of everyone, but my desire was too strong to ignore. So, I went for it! That year, I danced with the older group which kickstarted a children’s performance group. Throughout my life, I embarked on a series of daring endeavors: establishing a successful foundation at 11, dancing for the WNBA at 10, becoming a dance instructor at 14, journeying to China as a dance ambassador with strangers, and initiating a dance company at 17. By the age of 18, I had charted a clear plan for my life. My plan was to attend Fordham or Rutgers for their esteemed dance programs, join Complexions Contemporary Ballet, continue nurturing my dance company, develop my own dance technique, and evolve into a dance pioneer. Up until this point, I believed I had been taking significant risks. However, it was at 18 that the risks I undertook would define the course of my life.
In 2014 I recieved the option to take a merit-based full-ride scholarship to a college I had never heard of, located in a small town in upstate New York. I had gotten into the schools that I wanted, but thinking of all the sacrifices my mom made being a single mother, I decided to take the full ride a trust myself to continue forging my creative path. Midway through my four years, having completed my dance major, I pivoted toward a media and society major with a focus on film production. It was then that I discovered my interest in film. Just before graduation, while facing a nerve-wracking challenge in a math coding class I lacked prerequisites for (let’s skip that ordeal), I realized I didn’t spend enough time looking for jobs. I had options but none of them were very exciting. I had only two little film projects under my belt but I knew that film was something that I could really enjoy. With that in mind, I started looking into the top 5 film schools in the nation, and to my surprise, I got into SCAD. At the time I was in a long-term soon-to-be long-distance relationship with my college sweetheart, I didn’t know anyone in Atlanta (not to mention I was afraid of the south), and I wasn’t really sure if I had any chops in film at all. It was undeniably intimidating, yet I knew it was something I ardently desired. With that driving force, I remained convinced that I could figure it out.
Each of these pursuits has not been without sacrifices and hardships. For instance, I still had my career in dance in mind but found it difficult to create a name for myself in a completely different dance culture and meet other dancers while working toward my master’s in film. As some might know, film is an all-encompassing industry. Having that need to still want to be a part of the dance world caused friction in my search for work in film because while one profession called for consistent, scheduled availability, the other was sporadic and usually called for very long hours. I managed, but in my eyes, I struggled to create balance for a while. I was fighting between being financially comfortable and following my creative path and not taking the risks I’d made prior for granted. Regardless, I pushed on and finished my master’s in film, still teetering a rigid line between dance and film. In a lot of ways, one of the biggest risks that I’d made was letting go of dance to focus on film and trusting that I’d use film to get back to dance. In other words, the risk was in allowing my goals to evolve.
A few months go by and my once college sweetheart, now husband, and I buy a house at 25. Here’s the part where you ask, “Didn’t you say you were struggling?” and the answer is still yes… in a way. Part of taking big risks is also doing the research to the point of being confident in what you are about to do. This same mentality is one of the reasons why I felt it would be a good idea to learn the craft of film in school before jumping in with my two films in my broke down little pocket. With that being said, Craig and I did extensive research on buying a home and finding the best way to buy a house using the financial resources that we have, while not taking out irresponsible amounts of loans. A risk was taken, but carefully taken, because at the end of the day, I’d rather say that took action upon my goals than say it was too hard or too scary. One of those options I can sleep with, the other…absolutely not. Having a partner while keeping this mentality can be very taxing if they don’t understand your drive, so I really appreciate my husband for that.
My drive to achieve my dance and film aspirations persists. It took time, bolstered by the motivation from my beautiful baby girl Zhuri and my refusal to subscribe to societal notions that life stops after having a child. I found a balance. I now work as a videographer for the state, which offers me the stability that I was looking for but also time to dance and choreograph after work. It also provides the kind of income that allows me to save toward building my own studio. Once I have enough saved to do that, I plan on having my own studio and professional company. My choreography already has a very specific style, but in addition, I’d like for my company to specialize in movement films.
Two factors empowered me to undertake these risks without giving into reasons to back out: self-trust in maintaining my creativity (despite moments of enduring creative blocks) and the understanding that these risks propel me toward accomplishing my goals. That, for me, is reason enough. To summarize my journey regarding risk-taking and how I’ve developed this skill, I don’t initially perceive them as risks. Instead, I view them as goals. The only difference between the two words is how one chooses to approach the task at hand.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Born and raised in Inglewood, Los Angeles, California, I’ve immersed myself in the worlds of dance and filmmaking for over two decades. With an extensive background in dance spanning 20 years and a filmmaker’s journey of nine years, my artistic pursuits have shaped my path. For 16 remarkable years, I danced alongside the incredible talent at the Lula Washington Dance Theatre. My educational journey led me to acquire a Bachelor’s degree in Dance and another in Media and Society from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in ’18. I further honed my skills, earning a Master’s in Film from the Savannah College of Art and Design in ’21.
Inspired by the profound mentorship of Desmond Richardson, whose description of my movement as ‘Innate’ became the cornerstone, I founded the Innate Dance Theater. Additionally, I established Muepo Productions, named after my mother’s maiden name, venturing into the realm of production.
My passion for intertwining dance and film fuels my ongoing projects, particularly my current endeavor—a movement film series. This series will encompass multiple films shot in a suite format, blending narrative cinematic style with my choreographic knowledge stemming from studying the works of dance luminaries such as Lester Horton, Martha Graham, Katherine Dunham, and Dwight Rhoden.
The heart and soul of this project lie in paying homage to the artistic pioneers who’ve profoundly influenced me. It marks the first time I’ll seamlessly merge my extensive artistic experiences, uniting highly skilled professional dancers within a story-based film. My vision is to blur the lines between dance and film, creating an immersive experience where the two seamlessly intertwine, leaving the audience captivated.
Currently, we’re in the process of casting additional dancers for this innovative project, so dancers, keep your eyes peeled for updates!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Three significant factors that profoundly influenced my journey include my perseverance, the invaluable training I received in dance—which imparted discipline, artistry, and the ability to navigate diverse interpersonal dynamics—and adaptability, enabling composure in spontaneous situations. My advice to improve on these qualities would be to simply be more intentional. whether it be in your craft or your personal life. There is much to be learned from things that happen around you every day.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most significant and profound gesture my mother made was her decision to cease working for a few years to fully support my pursuit of dance. In my younger years, I didn’t fully grasp the enormity of her sacrifice, but as an adult, I deeply comprehend the immense faith and unwavering confidence she held in my aspirations. That gesture has stayed with me, serving as a guiding light during moments when I doubt my own abilities in my craft. Her unwavering support allowed me to access a newfound level of dedication in my training, catapulting my career to unprecedented heights. Without her sacrifice, I doubt I would be on the path I am on today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bandejam.squarespace.com/
- Instagram: @dancindeja @muepoproductions
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/idtheatre/
