Los Angeles-based The Realm Company was co-founded in 2022 by dancer, choreographer Chasen Greenwood and composer Taylor Briggs with the intent “to blend contemporary ballet with contemporary music, launching theatre into the 21st century.” The company’s production “Phoenix Rising” opens on Friday, May 24, 2025 at the Electric Lodge in Venice. with a preview dress rehearsal before an invited audience. The Company then presents its official opening night gala on Saturday, May 24th followed by a matinee performance on Sunday, May 25th. The run continues with performances on May 30th and 31st. All evening Performances will start at 7:30pm with doors opening at 6:30pm. The matinee performance on Sunday, May 25th will be at 3 pm with doors opening at 3pm. Tickets are on sale now.
LA Dance Chronicle writer, Jeff Slayton, met with Chasen Greenwood on Zoom to discuss Realm’s upcoming performances.
The Realm Company in rehearsal for “Phoenix Rising” choreography by Chasen Greenwood – Photo by Hannah Cox Photo.
While describing his company, Greenwood said that some of the work is neo-classical but that the company is definitely on the border of contemporary ballet as well. He always works with the full-on classically trained ballerinas but also hires colleagues who he describes as phenomenal contemporary dancers. “It’s a company full of free-lance dancer artists that more than a handful have continued to work with me.” His muse, the dancer that he has created several works for is Matisse Love who began her ballet career under the direction of the Kirov Ballet Soloist Marat Daukayev in Los Angeles. She is a Bolshoi graduate who currently performs internationally and nationally as guest principal ballerina.
“I really want to bridge the gap between the contemporary dancers and the ballet dancers, and make it cohesive and make sense,” Greenwood said.
Starting a ballet company in Los Angeles during these times cannot be an easy task. I asked Greenwood what inspired him to do just that.
“I’ve been in the industry professionally since I was nine. This has been my entire life,” He explained. “ At age 15, Greenwood had a friend who ran a nonprofit ballet company in Dallas, TX. At 16, he helped co-direct the group. “I was an early bird and I had a passion for choreographing.”
Chasen Greenwood conducting rehearsal – Photo by Hannah Cox Photo.
Greenwood teaches ballet at Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica and therefore has an opportunity to come across many professional dancers. It was during the Covid pandemic that he began bringing dancers together to create works. His company’s performances went from an audience of 30 to over 200 people every night. He was quick to add that Realm is not at the 800 to 1,000 people a night level just yet.
One of his goals is to acquire a studio where he can provide both ballet and modern dancers a space to train. His background was strictly classical ballet but Greenwood did have the opportunity to train for many years with the Dallas Black Dance Theater and therefore to study “real” modern dance.
The Realm Company is fortunate to have both an inhouse choreographer and composer. Taylor Briggs is Finnish-American composer, music performer, and actor from Los Angeles, California. He received a Bachelor of Music in 2024 in Contemporary Writing & Production and Songwriting from Berklee College of Music in Boston.
The Realm Company in rehearsal for “Phoenix Rising” choreography by Chasen Greenwood – Photo by Hannah Cox Photo.
Regarding Briggs’ work, Greenwood said that his music covers an extremely wide range. “I have heard some of his other work that he’s done for himself and other people,” he said. “He will go from creating a pop track for recording artists to creating a death scene in one of my ballets. I’m very lucky to have a young, vibrant, up-and-coming man who wants to learn and do all sorts of different kinds of music. So, it’s really hard to pinpoint, but he’s great with soundtracks. We’re a great team. Everything we produce is all original.”
Greenwood works in T.V. and films as often as possible. His recent work can be seen in the upcoming movie “Billy Knight” (2024) starring Al Pacino & Charlie Heaton and “The Accompanist” (2019) directed by Frederick Keeve. Chasen’s current project “Phoenix Rising” is an original choreography with an original score by Briggs.
“Phoenix Rising” was inspired by the Harry Potter films, Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. He and Briggs wish to bring something to LA other than the classics like “Swan Lake.” “I love “Swan Lake,” he added quickly. Depending on the project, they are also open to collaborating with other composers.
The Realm Company in rehearsal for “Phoenix Rising” choreography by Chasen Greenwood – Photo by Hannah Cox Photo.
Greenwood and Briggs were inspired by a new video game called Hell Blade II whose main character, Alrya Steelheart, struggles with schizophrenia throughout the entire game.
“There’s actually voices that go through her head as well,” Greenwood described. “I want to revamp “The Phoenix” and go from a traditional ballet like I did last time where I stayed in the lines of tradition to now in the first act she’s a full-on warrior. “She is abandoned. Her mother gets killed in the opening and then she is found by an enchantress (Emily Bombsauce). Think of Maleficent but maybe a lot darker. I don’t come from a Disney approach, but I love coming from a theatrical or cinema aspect of drama.”
He explained that the Act One of “Phoenix Rising” takes the audience through Alrya’s journey of falling in love with a man she grew up sparing with (Harry Louis), realizing that this is not the life she wants and finally being killed by the enchantress. In Act Two she becomes a full-fledged prima Phoenix battling to save the life of the man she loves. Melissa Briggs (sister to Taylor Briggs) performs Alry every night except May 30 when Matisse Love will dance that role. The combat fighting scenes were co-choreographed by Chasen Greenwood and Kelsey Morgaine. All the costumes were designed by Jamie Clugston.
“When I first met Melissa a few years ago, when I first started doing work, she was the quietest girl in the back, and quite frankly, was more corps material,” Greenwood said. “She has worked her way up and I’ve thrown opportunities at her to see whether she will sink or swim and she has risen to every occasion.” Last year for SoCal Ballet, he gave Briggs the lead role. “I have chills. She completely rose to the occasion.”
Greenwood is not a choreographer who walks into the studio with every step already choreographed. “When Taylor creates music, that is what helps me propel the story. When I listen to the music, that is when I see the steps. I see the story through music,” He said.
Briggs’ original score for “Phoenix Rising” will also be available on streaming platforms.
Chasen Greenwood – Photo by Emily DeVito.
I asked Greenwood if he had anything else to say to our readers.
“I think the biggest compliment that I got during “Krampus” was straight men, boys and families coming up and saying, ‘if this is what ballet is, we really want to come back,’ He said. “As a gay man from Texas, having straight guys coming up and complementing your ballet is to me a huge win. So, I just want the audience to know that there is a place for everybody out here but with this company, we really want everyone to come, not just dance people, not just ballet people, but all sorts of people to come and enjoy the show and to know that we are movie inspired and that we are made to be in this town .”
The Realm Company performs May 24-25 and May 30-31. Evening performances begin at 8 pm and the matinee on Sunday, the 25th is at 3 pm.
For more information about The Realm Company and to purchase tickets, please visit their website.
To learn more about the Electric Lodge, please visit their website.
Written by Jeff Slayton for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: The Realm Company in rehearsal for “Phoenix Rising” choreography by Chasen Greenwood – Photo by Hannah Cox.
