SONGS FROM THE HOLE

Mike Tyus served as Choreographer for Songs from the Hole, Contessa Gayles’ award-winning Netflix documentary visual album chronicling the life and music of James “JJ’88” Jacobs.

Blending documentary, music, memory, and imagined worlds, the film uses movement as part of its cinematic language. Tyus developed choreography for a primarily non-dancer cast, creating physical material around themes of freedom, community, healing, and liberation. His work ranged from structured choreography to guided improvisation, allowing movement to emerge with an intimacy and freedom specific to the performers.

Director Contessa Gayles reflected on the collaboration:

“We worked with an amazing choreographer named Mike Tyus, who choreographed these movements that embodied those themes of spiritual freedom, of community…”

She also praised Tyus’ work with the film’s non-dancer cast, describing him as “amazing at getting us choreography and teaching it to the cast.”

Director: Contessa Gayles
Writers: James “JJ’88” Jacobs & Contessa Gayles
Choreographer: Mike Tyus
Producers: Contessa Gayles, richie reseda & David Felix Sutcliffe
Directors of Photography: Michelle Kwong & Contessa Gayles
Editors: Contessa Gayles, Rafe Scobey-Thal & Princess A. Hairston
Music Written + Performed by: James “JJ’88” Jacobs
Art Director: Javier Francisco Pretelt
Colorist: Yohance Brown
Production Manager: Jennifer Crystal Chien
Production Coordinator: Skylar Economy

World Premiere: SXSW
Distribution: Netflix