We wanted to give you, our fantastical readers and friends, a chance to "meet" a few of the LVDT artists. Readers, meet Ellen.
How are you involved with Seen Unseen?
I’m performing in 4 pieces, taking pictures of rehearsals to post on LVDT Facebook page, creating/updating Google calendar events (e.g., workshops with guest artist Nejla Yatkin), any other PR assistance I can provide.
How long have you been working with Leverage (including when it was aTrek)?
This is my first time officially working with Leverage, though I have periodically taken classes and intensives through them/aTrek since 2008.
What do you find exciting about working with Leverage?
I am inspired by the overwhelming amount of creativity and artistry within this group as well as the collaborative drive to constantly pursue new ideas and challenge boundaries.
What has your experience been so far, working on Seen Unseen?
It’s fascinating to be working with so many different choreographers; each has a unique approach to creating new work. Some rely more on collaboration to make new material, whereas others have a clear vision of what they want before even entering the studio. It’s been a great learning opportunity for me to have to adapt to each choreographer’s process; I appreciate each experience for its own challenges and discoveries. I have learned more about myself as a dancer as well as a person because of these combined experiences.
So many dancers say, “I can’t live without dance.” Is this true for you? Why is it so essential?
Yes, it is definitely true for me. I’ve never been the best technical dancer, but I love the constant striving for improvement. I love the intricate details in each movement and the idea that dance can express emotions and ideas that words simply cannot. When I am dancing, it is the only time that I truly feel free to just be. Somehow, everything else falls away, leaving me feeling intensely vulnerable, yet somehow strangely and wonderfully empowered. Dance to me is a beautiful gift that I never want to take for granted.
What dance experience do you have prior to/outside of Leverage?
I hold a BFA in Modern Dance from Texas Christian University and am currently dancing as an apprentice with another local company, Common Thread Contemporary Dance Company, under the direction of Jennifer Medina.
Stay tuned for Q&A's from other artists, coming soon!
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