"FOG" features two world premieres — Danielle’s Soon After and Jacob’s Grip — blending raw movement, live music, and storytelling.

The project is a creative and financial collaboration to share resources, reduce risk, and build community in LA’s dance scene.

Music is performed live by acclaimed collaborators Yuka Honda (with Danielle) and Live Footage (with Jacob).

Danielle and Jacob reconnected after years of mutual admiration for each other’s work.

The idea grew from a shared desire not to feel alone as artists and to strengthen the LA dance community.

Both have long histories of leading respected companies (ate9 and Jacob Jonas The Company) with global reach.

Strengths: Openness to creativity; diverse dance history (street, commercial, concert dance, circus arts).

Challenges: Lack of tradition and repetition in programming to build an audience; limited philanthropic support for sustainability.

Solutions: More self-production, cross-company collaborations, and ongoing relationships with audiences.

Collaboration values: Mutual respect, vulnerability, and celebrating artists’ individuality while maintaining group strength.

Breakthrough moments: Often come from unexpected mistakes in rehearsal, embraced as creative gifts.

Musician relationships: Both choreographers deeply value intuitive, responsive live music creation during the process.

Rehearsal approach: Some works are intentionally under-rehearsed to keep performances fresh and alive.

Presence is key — for Danielle, site-specific work is less about location and more about performer engagement with space and audience.

Adapting to context — Jacob emphasizes how emotional or world events can shift audience perception and work resonance.

Directors aim to inspire, challenge, and celebrate dancers, rather than dominate their voices.

Danielle: Has had multigenerational casts with long-standing members; values safe yet daring creative environments.

Jacob: Encourages a “family” dynamic; operates with an open-door policy allowing dancers to leave and return.

Both acknowledge knowing when to welcome new voices or say goodbye is vital for creative growth.

Both artists have been influenced by mentorship, community, and nontraditional learning.

Somatic-based movement and body-awareness practices play a role in their current approach to creating and healing.

They see dance not just as art, but as an evolving conversation with the audience and each other.