This video captures a rehearsal for a young art collective's Butoh project. Neoma, the collective, brings together musicians and movers from diverse backgrounds and talents. This rehearsal focuses on an improvised solo, with both the solo and the musicians’ accompaniment being uniquely improvised for each performance. The piece, titled This Body is Holding Me was performed in front of a live audience in February 2025 and looked very different from this verson. Dancer: Monica Moreno Musicians Include: Mike Meanstreetz, Nicki Chen, Nelle J. Anderson, Patrick Behnke, Theo Rasmussen. Date Recorded: January 20, 2025

This is a poem I wrote some days ago while working through the fact that I had become impatient with someone who has hurt me or chosen to misunderstand and not listen to me throughout my life. I had forgotten that they are not really speaking to me or about me — they speak from wounds that they have not yet managed to heal.

“A Life Lived” is a short poem and sound collage that took shape over time—perhaps a year, maybe even three. The past few years have been marked by significant losses, including the passing of my father. These experiences have more deeply influenced my reflections on life. I’ve come to question more and more the way we live and connect more to our world family through the emotions and experiences we all share. Do you believe we are more alike than different? . . Credits: I am grateful for the sound effects of Rico Casazza, Drotzruhn, Jonas Tisell, and Freqman. Written, Edited, Composed, Recorded by Monica Moreno.

This video was created as an assignment for a program I was taking courses for in 2022. Everything is my original work, except for the dialogue.

This project was completed with support from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and Community Partners through their Corona Memorials Project.

Take a breath, breathe in deeply...find relief, find peace. Vocal Recording and Editing by Monica Moreno. Choral Recording by Tom Evans | 2020

Written, recorded and edited by Monica Moreno | 2020

This piece was choreographed for a dance showcase at West Los Angeles College celebrating the work of Tim Burton. The dance showcase was called Burtontopia and took place in 2011. – Credits – Dance Choreography by Monica Moreno Dancers: Tina Disi, Ida Price, Monica Moreno Video Recording and Edit Joseph Ruffoni Music from The Nightmare Before Christmas film, sung by Fiona Apple