Speaking in Ligeti
Having built her career on fusing dance and music, Martha
Carter has an uncanny understanding of the interwoven forces that bind the two.
In her latest creation – which showcases in Halifax this weekend - her team of
five dancers joins forces with renowned string quartet, Microcosmos, to tackle
the music of one of the late 20th century’s most innovative composers, György
Ligeti. Recently we spoke with Carter about the production and more.
When and why did you
first become interested in dance?
I
fell in love with ballet after watching the Nutcracker around age 8. I started
classes and advanced quickly with my love of movement and music.
Are they the same reasons that you continue to be involved today?
Yes.
It’s all about the movement and the rhythm...even if the dance is in silence,
or if the music is arthythmic!
What are the challenges
of the vocation?
Dance
is extremely labour intensive as it is ephemeral and requires constant physical
presence in a studio to learn and rehearse choreography. And then the
dance needs to be performed in front of an audience to be complete. After the
performance, the dance is gone. There is no way to preserve it, except by
filming it...and then it loses some of its essence as it becomes very
two-dimensional. This is very different than musicians who can learn the music
by themselves at home and then come to rehearsal ready to go.
Or
painters or writers or film-makers who can create alone and then put their
painting aside for years before they decide to show it. And then of course, it
is well known that dance is the poorest of all art forms with the least amount
of public funding.
What are the rewards?
“Dancers
are the messengers of the gods.” (Martha Graham)
Is your creative process more 'inspirational' or 'perspirational'?
Both
How has your work evolved over the years?
Over
the years, I have always started with movement, but I have become more and more
of an interdisciplinary artist working with dance, music, new media, theatre
and film.
This
is a constant evolution, especially as technology changes so fast.
What inspired Speaking
in Ligeti?
The
power of the music, and the movement amongst the musicians as they play
together. As I watched them in concert, I immediately envisioned the quartet in
the middle of the stage as an equal presence onstage with the dancers. When I
researched Ligeti - his fascinating life and innovative compositional process -
he became the focus of the inspiration.
What can audiences
expect to experience?
A
dose of entertainment, a dose of high art, a big spoonful of music theory and a
full-on exciting roller coaster ride.
What are your thoughts on the current state of dance in Canada?
There
is amazing talent in this country. Unfortunately, there is not enough funding
to get more work travelling and shared across the country. All the more reason
why we feel so lucky to be travelling to Halifax!
What's next on your creative agenda?
I
have several projects in the works, as do most of the artists in this
production. Watch out Canada!
Speaking
in Ligeti
May
29, 30, 7pm
Sir
James Dunn Theatre, Halifax
www.liveartdance.ca
