Meet Maya Billig | Choreographer & Dancer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maya Billig and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maya, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
One thing I constantly say to myself is “momentum begets momentum.” As a freelance artist, you find yourself in a career path that is naturally tumultuous and ever-changing. Sometimes you have so many projects, you can hardly keep up. And other times, you’ll be wondering when and where your next paycheck will be coming from. But I am a firm believer in creating your own momentum. If I don’t have a project, I am training and researching my craft. I’m going to shows and supporting the community. I’m surrounding myself with artists who inspire me. This balanced with rest and self-care can create a beautiful, sustainable momentum for your work and things will naturally fall into place.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a Miami-based choreographer, director, dancer. I am also the artistic director and founder of Billy Gee Dance Theatre. A cross between fantasy and poignant reality, my work is rooted in building surreal, hybrid worlds through the medium of dance theater. My work has been supported by Knight Foundation, Adrienne Arsht Center, Miami Light Project, Locust Projects, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, and Deering Estate. I am currently a Jacob’s Pillow Ann & Weston Hicks 2021 Choreographic Fellow, as well as featured in Dance Magazine’s March 2022 Issue of “On The Rise.” I’ve been honored as a recipient of the Dance Miami Choreographer’s Award and Knight New Work 2020 in support of my latest work “Gate Closes at 3:05” which premieres February 4th and 5th at Miami Light Project. My dance films have been screened both nationally and internationally including Sweden, Bosnia, Italy, and USA. This naturally led to a path of professional photography inspired by capturing movers and my travels and I’ve now photographed over one-hundred artists around the world. Besides receiving my Bachelor of Fine Arts and being classically trained in the conservatory program from New World School of the Arts, I’ve trained heavily in contemporary dance, physical theater, and improvisational techniques throughout the US, Europe, Israel, and Australia. A traveler at heart, I have traversed 31 countries and plan to spend my life exploring how to develop sustainable relationships to our planet and each other. I am interested in having my work be an intersection, an inspiration for dialogue, and a refuge.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
As a Groveite, I’ll have to show them around Coconut Grove and its beautiful history. Lunch at The Last Carrot is a must. Ride bikes down to Matheson Hammock. Go swimming in South Beach. People watching in Wynwood. A funky show at Miami Light Project. Live music at Center for Subtropical Affairs. Dance all night into the morning at Space. Listen to a stranger’s story at the Corner. Find a site-specific performance at an art gallery. Go on a boat and blast reggaeton. Drink a colada at Mary’s Coin Laundry. Laugh until you cry at the beauty and irony of such a sizzling city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate my Shoutout to Miami Light Project, an organization that is truly for the artists. They have been the cornerstone for my success in supporting my visions and helping them come life.

Website: mayanadinedance.com

Instagram: @mayabillig

Image Credits
Brianna Campbell, Maya Billig, Enrique Villacreses