If you’ve ever wondered where sound, psychology and dance intersect, look no further than Sarah Kinlaw. The director, musician and choreographer co-runs the performance art studio Otion Front, where the physical and ontological are examined in tandem, a concept Kinlaw explored in last year’s production of Authority Figure. A social psychology experiment, the piece uses intentional choreography and sound installation to create an emotional response from its audience, which is what landed Sarah in the arts in the first place. Siting her high sensitivity as a main motivator in her work, she is leading the charge of interdisciplinary artists embracing the technological changes surrounding us and incorporating them in their vision.
How/why did you become involved in your line of work?
Very high sensitivity.
Tell us a little bit about your present work, the Cliffs Notes version of your day to day and what is at stake.
Somatic pop project under Sarah Kinlaw, bass/vocals in SOFTSPOT, co-runs Otion Front Studio, therapy 2x week.
What do you find most fulfilling about your work?
Listening, building a fam.
What is your proudest achievement with this work and what is your greatest challenge?
Directing 200+ bodies in Authority Figure alongside (friend and OFS partner) Monica Mirabile.
What do you hope changes or improves (or continues!) in your field in the future?
Safe and inclusive diy spaces, easier accessibility to education for grants and funding for the arts, diverse programming, fair and prompt payment for artists, support and opportunity for women and minorities, healthcare
Who would you nominate for this list?
All artists involved with Otion Front, Jen Monroe from Bad Taste.
Learn more about this year’s 100 Influencers in Brooklyn Culture.
