DANCER and choreographer Brigel Gjoka was in town to feature his performance Eksod at the 2014 Napa International Theatre Festival. He took a few minutes out from his rehearsals to chat with Maleeha Hamid Siddiqui about the origins of his name, the challenges of using a prop and trusting one`s instincts.

So what is the story behind your name? My parents were huge fans of the German footballer Hans-Peter Briegel and so I was named after him. The funny thing is I have nothing to do with sports.

What was the first performance that you directed? It was a very short piece from the Strasbourg Opera that I directed for school students back in 2008 to initate them into art and dance appreciation.

What sound do you like the most? Any sound that I perceive in my mind but cannot produce.What prop has been the most challenging? Every prop has been the most challenging since it is open to several interpretations.

Every time I use a prop, it has a different interpretation. Every prop has value and it can be called by another name.Were any of the props that you used for Eksod challenging? I wouldn`t say challening but using Theremin, an electronic instrument, has been the most pleasant to use.

What do you look for in dancers when you hire them? See where I come from every dancer has the technical education so what I am looking for is someone who is uninhibited and expressive.

What are some of the most important lessons life has taught you? To keep challenging oneself and keep failing. And trust your instincts, you may not always be right but there will be many times when you will be.

What are you planning to do next? I have been associated with The Forsythe Company since 2011 so I will be going to Vienna with them for a performance. Then I am off to Albania, my home country where I will be working on a huge project.