INTERVIEW WITH NewDANCEfest GUEST ARTIST, CAMERON MCKINNEY

At the 2025 edition of NewDANCEfest, we had the opportunity to sit down with guest artist Cameron McKinney to discuss the powerful work he restaged with festival participants. In FATHER ABSENCE | MOTHER MA, McKinney uses choreography and movement as a means of healing, exploring the loss and absence of his birth father. The piece also draws inspiration from the Japanese concept of ma—the artistic idea of empty space as a meaningful, positive presence. Through this lens, McKinney pays tribute to the influential women in his life, creating a deeply personal and resonant work.

Video footage & edit by Allison Armfield