FEATURE: Kiandra Brooks | Choreographer A Strange Loop

Kiandra Brooks | Choreographer | A Strange Loop Meet Kiandra Brooks: Bold, Creative, Intentional.

Kiandra Brooks brings bold creativity, emotional precision, and deep intentionality to every project she touches—and her work on A Strange Loop at Circle Theatre is no exception. As the choreographer for this emotionally charged and rhythmically complex production, Kiandra faced the unique challenges of a thrust stage, a deeply intimate venue, and a story that demanded vulnerability and truth. In this interview, she shares how she crafted movement to reflect Usher’s inner world, why this piece pushed her as an artist and collaborator, and what she hopes audiences carry with them after the final bow.

The Chat: Kiandra Brooks on Choreographing A Strange Loop

Tell us about the process of working on A Strange Loop. Was it different than previous shows you have worked on?

Working on A Strange Loop has been quite the time! I don’t think I’ve ever worked with a cast so unified, joyous to be around, but also beyond focused and serious about the work. Of course, my experiences vary from show to show. However, what truly set this show apart was the push and pull of my creativity. I’ve grown so much as both an artist and collaborator. A Strange Loop is a show that constantly inhales and exhales—from opening to curtain call, creating a nuanced duality that the choreography had to reflect. It is an emotional rollercoaster that shifts quickly from an electrifying jazz number to heartfelt liturgical melodies and more. To have to create space for such a variety of emotions, I became fully immersed and took many risks (more than my usual) to diligently honor each of them. Each moment had breath and created a masterpiece thanks to the talented cast and crew!

What difficulties did you face creating the choreography of the show, facing Circle's unique space and sound?

Circle’s space presented a beautiful challenge. With Circle being a thrust stage, there’s no traditional “front,” so I had to be intentional about how the movement lived and breathed. Crafting moments that felt full from every angle while still maintaining emotional intimacy was key. The intimacy of the venue magnified every detail. Choreographing for that kind of proximity required clarity and intentionality. This created space for testing out “moments” and “shapes”, seeing how they read to opposing views, and adjusting as needed. Remaining flexible and staying grounded in purpose, even when the path was not linear, was most important.

 What was important to you as a designer on this show specifically?

It was important to me to use movement as a vessel for Usher’s thoughts, fears, and desires. I never wanted the choreography to feel disconnected, rather embedded in his inner monologue and serving the story. As a cisgender, heterosexual Black woman, I also felt it was my job- no, my duty- to approach this story with grace and understanding. This piece holds such specific nuance around Black queerness, internalized messages, and the weight of expectation that I knew my role wasn’t just about crafting movement. It was about listening, honoring, and uplifting truth.

What message do you hope the audience takes away after seeing the show?

I hope audiences walk away with a deeper sense of empathy. From Blackness to queerness, it holds up a mirror to the audience and asks numerous hard-hitting questions that many will want to see it a second time in hopes of clear answers. It is a rich, complex story layered in laughter, discomfort, and hard truths that create space for people to understand the plight of others’ experiences. I hope that my perspective of how movement lives in Usher’s world aids audiences to new revelations as well. A Strange Loop is a raw story that must be told!