Artistic Director leads the way in telling it like it is...
http://www.newedgecabaret.com/
Luis Chaluisan has no problem keeping it real. From life on the poetic streets of NYC, to the campus of an Ivy league school and into the field as a no nonsence news reporter, Luis has developed and stuck to his bold style. Now online with New Edge Cinema, director of Bronx based cultural center New Edge Theater, Luis Chaluisan is taking his passion GLOBAL.
EL EXTREME (LUIS CHALUISAN) EL INTERVIEW
What genre do you classify your work?
Nuyorican Performance. This is not as restrictive a term one might believe at first.
I practice it as part of Americana Musical Theater Tradition that incorporates the various forms present in pop culture (dance, word, lyrical composition, art) with an all inclusive Latino perspective but rooted in a second generation Puerto Rican experience on the mainland USA.
What is the main premise of your work?
To boldly go where no Rican has gone before independently (lol)
How did you start off?
Writing letters at age 5. Singing on the subway at age seven; I discovered my voice singing Henry the VIII by Herman’s Hermits; watercolor painting in sixth grade led by my art teacher Mr. Pucino; writing my first poem “The Storm” in eighth grade. In 1974/75 I organized a performance dance/theater group ADORACION with fifteen high school friends. I choreographed music by Eddie Palmieri, La Lupe, The Pointer Sisters and wrote sketches for the show. That group performed both locally in New York and traveled to Amherst College to perform in 1975 for their first Palante Cultural Performance Program which continues today at the school. In 1976 I wrote “Narrative of A Hybrid” while At Amherst college and performed it at the Octagon on campus. It was published in the Polemic edited by John Russell (currently a Professor at Gifu University in Japan.) Additionally Talking Wall Pictures director John Coles filmed a dance-music film of my choreography in a 4 minute piece featuring the music of Bette Midler entitled “Drinking Again”.
Who inspired you?
As a child: Desi Arnaz, Daniel Santos, The Beatles, Elvis, Richie Ray and Ray Maldonado, my parents Federico and Ana. As a teenager: James Brown, Mitch Ryder, Marvin Gaye, Norman Whitfield, Richard Pryor, Freddie Prinze (teachers at Cardinal Hayes) Father Principe, Ed Robinson, Bill Kerrigan, Performers/Writers/Comedians) Hector Lavoe, Eddie Palmieri, Machito, Lefty Barretto, Izzy Sanabria, Al Santiago, Raul Julia, Sheila Escovedo, David Amram, Eddie Figueroa, Pedro Pietri, Rick Aviles, Charlie Barnett, my uncle Heriberto Batlle. As a young man: Batacumbele, Los Lobos, Steve Athanas, Jean Toomer my brother Ron.
Do you think Latinos/Women have to work harder than any other race in the entertainment industry?
Did the Pope swear allegiance to Adolph Hitler when he served as a solder in Nazi Germany? (lol) Things change. As the second majority in the US, we haven’t yet fully realized the general power we have to overcome these obstacles.
How do you want other Latinos/Women to perceive your work?
With respect.
In your opinion, what is setting Latino entertainment back? If not, what is bringing it forward?
This is a loaded question. Suffice to say I work independently because I don’t buy into the politics and corruption of the establishment Latino Arts Scene in NYC.
Would you rather be in front of a camera acting or behind the scenes producing a show?
Producing. That’s where the money is at and personal satisfaction of molding the final product by putting together the right ingredients.
Do you have any big events coming up?
The big event is the ongoing success of newedgecinema in a relatively short time.
NEW EDGE THEATER SOLIDIFIES HOLD ON TOP STREAMING SPOT VIA YOUtube.com - New Edge Theater holds a 1000 subscriber lead over the closest competitor in the YOUtube web streaming universe with a total of 5265 members and 53,000+ views of work produced by the company under the aegis of ElExtreme and the newedgecinema group. Final Edit is underway for the letterbox high definition release of “MANIC MAMBO: the further adventures of mambo x man” at the end of this week. Shot on location in NYC, the inclusion of Manic Mambo in the New Edge repertoire completes the picture in presenting all of the artistic disciplines which the company has developed over the years (music, word, drama, comedy, and with Mambo X Man- Dance.) In the meantime, The Life and Loves of Lola Magdalena continues to draw people to the group site with more than 22,000 views. The short features Maria Hernandez as Lola Magdalena. The Dominican Born/Bronx Based actress recently appeared on HBO’s Sopranos with a speaking role. She is the subject of a music essay on the newedgecinema site featuring recent photos from her portfolio. (http://www.youtube.com/group/newedgecinema)
Have you accomplished your dreams? If not yet, where else do your dreams take you - a few years from now?
The perfect unified Nuyorican show. Getting closer with the Electric Cabaret experience and certainly Spic Chic/Lola Magdalena stand as solid efforts.
What is one mistake that you do not want anyone to recreate?
Not enough cautiousness.
Do you have any words of inspiration for Artists that want to follow in your footsteps?
Hey world – you won’t hear me? I’ll make you hear me. Hey world – you won’t see me? I’ll make you see me! (from Piri Thomas)
THE WORD
When you hit that spot
Where everything flows
Character to type
There is a moment of virtue
The words outgrow confined meaning
Become transcendent of confined meaning
Landing in supreme company
And then pass still higher
Image to archetype
Awakening a ravenous love bite
In the center of my mind
Where I have been so blind
Paying attenion to time
Than timing my affection
For the betterment
And perfection
Of an existence
Infected
But a day to day hectic
SCHEDULE
OF
EVENTS
I stand corrected
And accept the injection
Await the objective
Ablaze in selective
Emotional digestion
Of extra dimensional
Love
Drained from the terms
of all my adventures
All is order once more
Moving towards SupremeWisdom
Liberating a life that rewards
Stillness
Passing from solitary to solitary
Until captured in the hyperspace of my mind
