Nutshell
This weekend, Live Art Dance in Halifax closes out its 2013-2014 season with three works, including Nutshell from Halifax’s own Rhonda Baker. Recently we spoke with her about what audiences can expect.
When and why did you
first become interested in dance?
RB: I began taking dance lessons when I was nine; a friend
of mine was in a combination class at Maritime Dance Academy (Ballet, Jazz,
Tap), and I thought I would try it out too. After discovering Modern dance, I became
very serious about pursuing it more intensively. What I enjoyed about dance was
the physicality, self expression, and interpretive qualities within the
structure of any given movement phrase. I really attribute my growing interest
in dance to having passionate teachers throughout my training.
Are they the same
reasons that you continue to be involved today?
RB: My reasons for continuing with dance as a profession are
not the same as when I began, but the seed remains. In the way that your ideal
of love can evolve as it is lived with someone else, it is the same for me with
dance - it requires an unlimited amount of devotion, attention, and hard work. The
capacity for human experience, empathy, and expressivity continues to grow
through this medium. My interests remain in the cultivation of imagination; it
is a major key to how I experience life and work in a fulfilling way.
What are the challenges
of the vocation?
RB: The work can take a toll on the physical state of your
body, and so there is an incentive to stay healthy. I work very hard to prevent
injuries, and when they do occur, tend to them in a very timely manner. There
are no ‘sick days’ in our field.
“In the way that your ideal of love can evolve as it is lived with someone else, it is the same for me with dance - it requires an unlimited amount of devotion, attention, and hard work.”
What are the rewards?
RB: Of course the performance aspect is the main draw of
this profession, and having the opportunity to travel and share our work with
communities in other provinces, or even other countries is very rewarding.
Is your creative process
more 'inspirational' or 'perspirational'?
RB: I am continually inspired by the people I work with, and
find there is a healthy mix of inspiration and perspiration in the studio! During
my time spent with both choreographers for this show, (Sara Coffin and Sharon
Moore) the perceptions I once had of my own physical limits have shifted; I’ve
been inspired by their generosity, and find I am able to perform at ever higher
levels through our work together in the studio.
How has your work
evolved over the years?
RB: I am mainly hired as an artist for contract based dance
projects; currently working for Mocean Dance and Coleman Lemieux and Compagnie.
I am also pursuing my choreographic interests on the side with various
independent artists in Halifax and Toronto. Most of the dance contracts I work
on are highly engaging in the collaborative sense, and this often gives me more
of a license to offer my personality and aesthetic to the work.
“During my time spent with both choreographers for this show…the perceptions I once had of my own physical limits have shifted; I’ve been inspired by their generosity, and find I am able to perform at ever higher levels through our work together in the studio.”
What have been some
highlights?
RB: Working on Canvas 5 x 5 with Tedd Robinson (my first
contract with Mocean Dance), was one of those collaborations where I found
myself dropped into the centre of the unknown. I spent a lot of time trying to master
the temperaments of the canvas in order to create sculptural pieces or have it
glide in just the right way. There are a lot of striking images within Canvas 5
x 5—it’s easily one of my favourite dances to perform and continues to be a
crowd favourite whenever we tour it. Another highlight was traveling to Israel
in the summer of 2012 to study the Gaga Movement Language directly from its
creator, Ohad Naharin. It was a very enriching time in my career, and was the
first time I had travelled such a far distance from home. Training in this
dance method really taught me to not take myself so seriously, to leave room
for play while in modes of discovery, and to love my sweat, it gets really hot
there in the summer!
What inspired Nutshell?
RB: Nutshell was created as I was graduating from The School of
Toronto Dance Theatre in 2009. The solo was choreographed by Sharon Moore; a
highly regarded artist working in dance and theatre who handpicked me from a
class of nineteen graduates to work with on a new creation. The work is deeply
rooted in technical and emotional content. In Sharon Moore’s own words: “Each
moment is an effort to get it right or not. It’s an open diary of sensation…
determined in the end to achieve a little revenge.”
What can audiences
expect to experience this weekend?
RB: The audience can look forward to experiencing a wide
range of dance forms that vary in qualities from internal and meditative, to
highly virtuosic and grounded. There are various depths you can go to when expressing
a story or idea through dance, but ultimately I think that rich and expressive
movement remains at the core of this weekend’s performance. There is something
for everyone to enjoy in this show!
What has the response
been like so far to the production?
RB: The response has been very positive. There’s a lot of
excitement building for this particular performance, as it’s comprised of all
local talent, and is the official season closer for Live Art Dance Productions’
31st season.
“Each moment is an effort to get it right or not. It’s an open diary of sensation… determined in the end to achieve a little revenge.”
What are your thoughts
on the current state of dance in Canada?
RB: Firstly, I am very grateful to be a part of the Canadian
dance scene, especially on the eastern coast, as I feel it has a cool niche
that continues to grow and develop into a hub for innovative dance work. There
is support available for artists at the provincial and federal level through
government funding bodies, and this contributes greatly to many projects to
help artists see their work through to fruition.
What can we be doing
better?
RB: In Halifax, specifically, I think we need to heighten
the profile of dance and our professional artists. I do think we can meet half
way with promoters and news distributors to create a better relationship
between us and our audience, but discussion is key and so is information.
What's next on your
creative agenda?
RB: I’ll be gearing up for a performance with a collective
of dancers in Toronto, while also pursing some of my own choreographic
interests with a colleague of mine. Shortly thereafter I’ll be back to work in
Halifax with Mocean Dance. My other plans include getting some professional
development into the schedule.
Nutshell
April 24-26, 8pm
Sir James Dunn Theatre, Halifax
www.liveartproductions.ca
