Backstage Spotlight: Go, Dog. Go! Ve Perro ¡Ve!

Meet Choreographer Carlos Garland and get your tickets for this kid-friendly bilingual show running through October 5th!

What inspired you to become a theater maker and choreographer?

One thing that inspired me to become a choreographer and theater maker is Michael Jackson’s music video productions. I enjoyed how there was always an elaborate theme or theatrical story that involved dance, characters, and music.

What kind of education prepared you for this career?

I attended performing arts schools ever since 1st grade throughout highschool, and then continued in college. Curriculums at LaVilla School of the Arts, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, and Jacksonville University were all essential in my training and preparation for a career.

What school subjects that our students may be studying do you use every day?

Creative writing. Understanding how to craft an engaging story with a beginning, middle, and end. I think of crafting a story with movement just like with words.

What is your favorite part about being a choreographer?

My favorite part about being a choreographer is working with the dancers. It’s fulfilling when you see others understand and take on the movement you give them, and watch them perform it!

How did you collaborate and draw inspiration from the director and designers for Go, Do., Go! Ve Perro ¡Ve!

I really enjoyed Dimitri’s enthusiasm and vision for this production. The detail of every moment was accounted for, and that really helps for a productive building process. The designers are awesome. After seeing the visual aspects of the production come together, the environment transformed to inspire even more so.

When you’re choreographing for dogs, do you imagine them dancing like people, or like dogs—or something totally different?

When choreographing the dogs in this show I imagine them dancing like people who don’t know that they are dogs! 

How do you approach choreographing for a story based on a picture book with minimal words but maximum energy?

Finding a mood from the drawing style, colors, and activity of a picture book helps. Since this particular story is full of activity, it provides inspiration for a lot of the movement.

Do you have a dog? What is their name? Did you draw any inspiration from them? 

I personally do not have a dog, but I grew up having plenty of dogs. Especially my parents, since at one point they had 11 dogs at one time… so I know the environment very well when a bunch of dogs are together!

What dog activity from the play is your favorite? Why? Have you done that activity before? What new activity are you inspired to try?

Dogs at work is my favorite activity from the play. It’s fun and busy with the use of props and shenanigans! Particularly, they seem to be heavy in construction, and after seeing how it went for them in the play, I’m not inspired to do construction any time soon!

What are three words you would use to describe this production?

Playful, diverse, and creative.