HOMEFULL
FOR THE LOVE OF HOUSE
house is deep, complex, layered…but also sweet and easy. So let’s start where it starts - with gratitude
The subjects and their INCREDIBLE generosity, the dance, the music and the people are what drive this collection forward. A hundred million thank you’s. To everyone who gives, so we can preserve this beautiful culture and all the stories - thank you. To the people who open their homes, events and sacred spaces, share a meal, offer intimate moments to the camera, and give time-energy-knowledge-wisdom-laughs-dances-stories-histories…pushing, teaching, exchanging, encouraging, correcting and elevating - thank you. To everyone who picks up the phone to consult, or hugs with a smile in a random run-in on the other side of the world - amidst the drowning house music, sweat and soul - thank you
There’s a lot of work yet to be done - interviews to add, places to visit, stories to document, and much to learn. And for some moments the camera has to be put down, so the spirit can be. To be LISTENing, I try not to push the documentation in any particular direction, but you will notice “place” a lot - I’m fascinated by the connections between people, where they are, the music and the dance. While this collection is House dance focused, you will find that some documentation covers events / parties / etc. that include other dance forms.
This is only the beginning so if you have a suggestion please don’t hesitate to connect
see you on the floor…
Angelina Snowflake Mirabile Mandatta Ponzio Labate
Creatress @bellabundance @homefulldothouse @snowflakedotproductions @artthreesixfive
LONDON ENGLAND
her story
To make a long story short(ish)
A few years back and an LA lifetime ago, I caught myself listening to some house music and smiling in the mirror! It surprised me…I’d experienced a lot of loss and it had been a long time since I’d seen my own smile like that.
Not long after, I found myself collapsed on the floor of the closet - praying, because my spirit was dying. I had to DO something, I needed to heal, and Spirit and House said “I can help.” I said ok, thank you - will you teach me? (this is the only way i know how to tell this, but its honestly so much deeper than these words)
The next thing I knew I was walking out of my abusive job, selling all of my stuff, packing up and hitting the road with one bag (yes one! if you know me and shoes, this is wild). One month and a spirit-time later I arrived back to The Bay, where I’d lived previously…. And so the journey began…
From the beginning I sensed that it wasn’t enough to practice steps - I wanted to understand the culture and history of House, too. I also originally started learning and documenting Salsa Rueda - Cuban Style salsa. However I eventually realized that I wanted to just ENJOY this dance style and live it, as the release and joyful dance it is for me, rather than disect it theoretically….so I let this thread go and focused on House. Thank you so much to the folk who opened those Salsa spaces for me and gave interviews…I am forever grateful, and I still love the dance, the music and the people I met and continue to meet. Thank you.
So House….I wanted to know and share those stories that can only be heard in a friends backyard after a cup of tea and before the sun sets. I wanted to stop time on that preciousness, to witness the beauty and richness of the people, the music, the dance. So I turned my car money into my camera money which - unlike the ‘97 Corolla with the sweet rims and tinted windows - I hadn’t the slightest idea how to turn on. But I would persevere, and here we are. Every time I interviewed someone, hit the club, saw people dance together / on the speaker / with their ancestors, or captured a moment - I understood just a little bit more. I’m still understanding, day by day…night by club night…block party by class…session by season…
I’d left behind in LA the most beautiful and affordable apartment I’d ever seen, along with a pretty stable life. Leaving LA was a MOMENT, where I chose courage and faith… that life could be better, that I could be happier, and that community, music and dance were the threads to weave it all together. And with that choice, so continued a life long game I like to call “find me if you can”, really a chain reaction of stable …unstable….livable…unlivable…housing and circumstances. I’m still out here locating and relocating as needed. I’m sure I’ve moved at least 40-50 times in my life, and I’m no stranger to couches.
The point is, I don’t always know where I’ll lay my head and STILL, I am so SURE that I’ve gained a home - not lost one. People often say “House is a Home” … and this HOME, is FULL.
THANK YOU
<3Angelina
the galaxy
oakland
san francisco
amsterdam
zurich
houston
san francisco
paris
heerlen
oakland
barcelona
heerlen
ZURICH SWITZERLAND
