so I’m at a party and the woman I’m talking to asks me what I do for work
talking to asks me what I do for work
talking to asks me what I do for work I am a dancer I am a choreographer and I
I am a dancer I am a choreographer and I
I am a dancer I am a choreographer and I am a professor of dance to which she
am a professor of dance to which she
am a professor of dance to which she says wow that must be so much fun and
says wow that must be so much fun and
says wow that must be so much fun and that response used to confuse me but
that response used to confuse me but
that response used to confuse me but over time I’ve come to think it’s a good
over time I’ve come to think it’s a good
over time I’ve come to think it’s a good one and so now I’ve taken to just
one and so now I’ve taken to just
one and so now I’ve taken to just countering with wow you’re an accountant
countering with wow you’re an accountant
countering with wow you’re an accountant that must be so much fun dancing is
that must be so much fun dancing is
that must be so much fun dancing is incredible it is fun sometimes it’s
incredible it is fun sometimes it’s
incredible it is fun sometimes it’s really hard intense painful work it can
really hard intense painful work it can
really hard intense painful work it can be soul-sucking it can be glorious but
be soul-sucking it can be glorious but
be soul-sucking it can be glorious but dance is so much more than just a
dance is so much more than just a
dance is so much more than just a profession dance is my identity and so
profession dance is my identity and so
profession dance is my identity and so that question posed to me a dinner party
that question posed to me a dinner party
that question posed to me a dinner party shouldn’t be what do you do but rather
shouldn’t be what do you do but rather
shouldn’t be what do you do but rather who are you the answer to that I’m a
who are you the answer to that I’m a
who are you the answer to that I’m a dancer I grew up watching musicals
dancer I grew up watching musicals
dancer I grew up watching musicals because my parents love them and I was
because my parents love them and I was
because my parents love them and I was very taken by the performances of Gene
very taken by the performances of Gene
very taken by the performances of Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds and singing in
Kelly and Debbie Reynolds and singing in
Kelly and Debbie Reynolds and singing in the rain and I love the choreography of
the rain and I love the choreography of
the rain and I love the choreography of Jerome Robbins in west side story and I
Jerome Robbins in west side story and I
Jerome Robbins in west side story and I would just be so excited that I would
would just be so excited that I would
would just be so excited that I would start to choreograph and dance in my
start to choreograph and dance in my
start to choreograph and dance in my bedroom mostly to pop music of the 80s
bedroom mostly to pop music of the 80s
bedroom mostly to pop music of the 80s now most dancers begin training when
now most dancers begin training when
now most dancers begin training when they’re quite young like two or three
they’re quite young like two or three
they’re quite young like two or three years old but I was very shy and I
years old but I was very shy and I
years old but I was very shy and I couldn’t be convinced to do that so it
couldn’t be convinced to do that so it
couldn’t be convinced to do that so it wasn’t until quite a while later I saw
wasn’t until quite a while later I saw
wasn’t until quite a while later I saw my friend Erica practicing her tap
my friend Erica practicing her tap
my friend Erica practicing her tap routine at the mall and I thought that
routine at the mall and I thought that
routine at the mall and I thought that was excellent and I wanted to do the
was excellent and I wanted to do the
was excellent and I wanted to do the same so at the age of 13 I put on a
same so at the age of 13 I put on a
same so at the age of 13 I put on a unitard and I started taking dance and
unitard and I started taking dance and
unitard and I started taking dance and to nobody’s surprise I was very terrible
to nobody’s surprise I was very terrible
to nobody’s surprise I was very terrible but I loved it and I practiced a lot
but I loved it and I practiced a lot
but I loved it and I practiced a lot anywhere I could I would tap dance on my
anywhere I could I would tap dance on my
anywhere I could I would tap dance on my mother’s kitchen for which she loved and
mother’s kitchen for which she loved and
mother’s kitchen for which she loved and I would do flying leaps down the
I would do flying leaps down the
I would do flying leaps down the concrete in the snow but I had a couple
concrete in the snow but I had a couple
concrete in the snow but I had a couple things going for me one is I had very
things going for me one is I had very
things going for me one is I had very supportive parents and two as I had
supportive parents and two as I had
supportive parents and two as I had access to quality dance training my
access to quality dance training my
access to quality dance training my modern dance teacher in high school she
modern dance teacher in high school she
modern dance teacher in high school she was the first person to really show me
was the first person to really show me
was the first person to really show me that dancers and choreographers were one
that dancers and choreographers were one
that dancers and choreographers were one in the same and she allowed me to begin
in the same and she allowed me to begin
in the same and she allowed me to begin choreographing on myself and on my peers
choreographing on myself and on my peers
choreographing on myself and on my peers and that was the
and that was the
and that was the moment of no return I was no longer just
moment of no return I was no longer just
moment of no return I was no longer just a dancer I was a creator so what is it
a dancer I was a creator so what is it
a dancer I was a creator so what is it that dancers create or do or communicate
that dancers create or do or communicate
that dancers create or do or communicate well dance is about the body and perhaps
well dance is about the body and perhaps
well dance is about the body and perhaps this is why people find the profession
this is why people find the profession
this is why people find the profession to be such a novel one because there
to be such a novel one because there
to be such a novel one because there aren’t that many professions that
aren’t that many professions that
aren’t that many professions that involve so much time and attention and
involve so much time and attention and
involve so much time and attention and focus and analysis on the human body is
focus and analysis on the human body is
focus and analysis on the human body is dance now we’re all very familiar with
dance now we’re all very familiar with
dance now we’re all very familiar with the senses taste touch smell etc but
the senses taste touch smell etc but
the senses taste touch smell etc but there’s one that dancers use a lot it’s
there’s one that dancers use a lot it’s
there’s one that dancers use a lot it’s called proprioception proprioception
called proprioception proprioception
called proprioception proprioception proprioception is the body’s sense of
proprioception is the body’s sense of
proprioception is the body’s sense of itself in the space that it is in so
itself in the space that it is in so
itself in the space that it is in so this is how I know that my arm is
this is how I know that my arm is
this is how I know that my arm is extended out to my side even though I’m
extended out to my side even though I’m
extended out to my side even though I’m not looking at my arm extended out to my
not looking at my arm extended out to my
not looking at my arm extended out to my side and this is why when dancers start
side and this is why when dancers start
side and this is why when dancers start to move on stage they have a sense an
to move on stage they have a sense an
to move on stage they have a sense an intrinsic sense of where they are in
intrinsic sense of where they are in
intrinsic sense of where they are in space dance is about community it’s made
space dance is about community it’s made
space dance is about community it’s made on human beings human bodies dancers
on human beings human bodies dancers
on human beings human bodies dancers bodies that need to train and work
bodies that need to train and work
bodies that need to train and work together for months and sometimes years
together for months and sometimes years
together for months and sometimes years to get it right and bound together over
to get it right and bound together over
to get it right and bound together over time those dancers become a company a
time those dancers become a company a
time those dancers become a company a dance family but to exist those dancers
dance family but to exist those dancers
dance family but to exist those dancers need witnesses an audience of community
need witnesses an audience of community
need witnesses an audience of community members to watch in real time the dance
members to watch in real time the dance
members to watch in real time the dance unfold on space
in 2010 I was about to move to
in 2010 I was about to move to jacksonville florida from Los Angeles
jacksonville florida from Los Angeles
jacksonville florida from Los Angeles and I had just gotten a professorship
and I had just gotten a professorship
and I had just gotten a professorship here but I didn’t really know much about
here but I didn’t really know much about
here but I didn’t really know much about the professional dance world so I did
the professional dance world so I did
the professional dance world so I did what anyone would do and I googled it
what anyone would do and I googled it
what anyone would do and I googled it and what I found is there were a lot of
and what I found is there were a lot of
and what I found is there were a lot of dance schools in Jacksonville for
dance schools in Jacksonville for
dance schools in Jacksonville for students there were a couple of really
students there were a couple of really
students there were a couple of really great college programs but what I
great college programs but what I
great college programs but what I couldn’t find where where all the paying
couldn’t find where where all the paying
couldn’t find where where all the paying professional modern dance companies work
professional modern dance companies work
professional modern dance companies work and I didn’t see any studios for
and I didn’t see any studios for
and I didn’t see any studios for professionals to take class and every
professionals to take class and every
professionals to take class and every other place I’ve ever lived in my life
other place I’ve ever lived in my life
other place I’ve ever lived in my life has had a lot of those things available
has had a lot of those things available
has had a lot of those things available it had worked for professional dancers
it had worked for professional dancers
it had worked for professional dancers and it’s had a place for them to take
and it’s had a place for them to take
and it’s had a place for them to take class and here i was about to move my
class and here i was about to move my
class and here i was about to move my entire life across the country and the
entire life across the country and the
entire life across the country and the thing that defines me didn’t appear to
thing that defines me didn’t appear to
thing that defines me didn’t appear to exist there I was at a place in my
exist there I was at a place in my
exist there I was at a place in my career where I didn’t feel like I wanted
career where I didn’t feel like I wanted
career where I didn’t feel like I wanted to retire yet so I didn’t quite know
to retire yet so I didn’t quite know
to retire yet so I didn’t quite know what I was going to do but I packed up
what I was going to do but I packed up
what I was going to do but I packed up and moved across the country knowing
and moved across the country knowing
and moved across the country knowing that I had to do something Google wasn’t
that I had to do something Google wasn’t
that I had to do something Google wasn’t exactly right it was right in a lot of
exactly right it was right in a lot of
exactly right it was right in a lot of areas there was no professional paying
areas there was no professional paying
areas there was no professional paying modern dance company but with their work
modern dance company but with their work
modern dance company but with their work were a handful of professional modern
were a handful of professional modern
were a handful of professional modern dancers and they were really talented
dancers and they were really talented
dancers and they were really talented these dancers had performed in Europe
these dancers had performed in Europe
these dancers had performed in Europe they had performed in New York they had
they had performed in New York they had
they had performed in New York they had danced for the Metropolitan Opera they
danced for the Metropolitan Opera they
danced for the Metropolitan Opera they had danced in Israel and they were the
had danced in Israel and they were the
had danced in Israel and they were the most generous interesting dance artists
most generous interesting dance artists
most generous interesting dance artists I have ever met and we immediately
I have ever met and we immediately
I have ever met and we immediately started working together and talking and
started working together and talking and
started working together and talking and creating because dance defines them to
creating because dance defines them to
creating because dance defines them to one day I was sitting in my office at
one day I was sitting in my office at
one day I was sitting in my office at the college and a student came in and he
the college and a student came in and he
the college and a student came in and he wanted advice about where he should go
wanted advice about where he should go
wanted advice about where he should go after graduation to work professionally
after graduation to work professionally
after graduation to work professionally in the dance world and I had a really
in the dance world and I had a really
in the dance world and I had a really tough time trying to figure out reasons
tough time trying to figure out reasons
tough time trying to figure out reasons to tell him to stay in Jacksonville and
to tell him to stay in Jacksonville and
to tell him to stay in Jacksonville and so I didn’t I advised him that he should
so I didn’t I advised him that he should
so I didn’t I advised him that he should go to Los Angeles because the odds of
go to Los Angeles because the odds of
go to Los Angeles because the odds of making money as a dancer are way higher
making money as a dancer are way higher
making money as a dancer are way higher in Los Angeles
the primary issue was not that the city
the primary issue was not that the city didn’t have the artists but rather that
didn’t have the artists but rather that
didn’t have the artists but rather that it had no organization for those artists
it had no organization for those artists
it had no organization for those artists to create to perform and to be paid for
to create to perform and to be paid for
to create to perform and to be paid for it and over time if there’s no work and
it and over time if there’s no work and
it and over time if there’s no work and there’s no money the artists leave and
there’s no money the artists leave and
there’s no money the artists leave and the implications of this are serious
the implications of this are serious
the implications of this are serious what is a city without its artists it
what is a city without its artists it
what is a city without its artists it provides a robust cultural experience
provides a robust cultural experience
provides a robust cultural experience for the citizens artists ask the
for the citizens artists ask the
for the citizens artists ask the important questions and they try to
important questions and they try to
important questions and they try to answer them it wasn’t because people
answer them it wasn’t because people
answer them it wasn’t because people weren’t going to arts events that’s not
weren’t going to arts events that’s not
weren’t going to arts events that’s not true people go to arts events in
true people go to arts events in
true people go to arts events in Jacksonville in fact I saw more people
Jacksonville in fact I saw more people
Jacksonville in fact I saw more people in theater and music and museums then I
in theater and music and museums then I
in theater and music and museums then I hadn’t even seen living in Los Angeles
hadn’t even seen living in Los Angeles
hadn’t even seen living in Los Angeles people love the arts here they wanted to
people love the arts here they wanted to
people love the arts here they wanted to be a part of it they would sit on
be a part of it they would sit on
be a part of it they would sit on committees they would donate money and
committees they would donate money and
committees they would donate money and all I heard over and over again was the
all I heard over and over again was the
all I heard over and over again was the potential of Jacksonville Jacksonville
potential of Jacksonville Jacksonville
potential of Jacksonville Jacksonville has so much potential it just didn’t
has so much potential it just didn’t
has so much potential it just didn’t have a professional paying modern dance
have a professional paying modern dance
have a professional paying modern dance company so the question remained for me
company so the question remained for me
company so the question remained for me what do you do if the thing that you
what do you do if the thing that you
what do you do if the thing that you need to do doesn’t exist in the place
need to do doesn’t exist in the place
need to do doesn’t exist in the place where you live well the only answer that
where you live well the only answer that
where you live well the only answer that a dancer would give is to create one
a dancer would give is to create one
a dancer would give is to create one because dancers do not just do the job
because dancers do not just do the job
because dancers do not just do the job of dancing they are dancers and so one
of dancing they are dancers and so one
of dancing they are dancers and so one evening after teaching all day I asked
evening after teaching all day I asked
evening after teaching all day I asked all of my dancer friends to meet with me
all of my dancer friends to meet with me
all of my dancer friends to meet with me and my friend Katie’s kitchen and we
and my friend Katie’s kitchen and we
and my friend Katie’s kitchen and we start around her table and I looked
start around her table and I looked
start around her table and I looked around and I asked all of these people
around and I asked all of these people
around and I asked all of these people that I respected so much if we should
that I respected so much if we should
that I respected so much if we should start a dance company and all of them
start a dance company and all of them
start a dance company and all of them said yes it was important to us that we
said yes it was important to us that we
said yes it was important to us that we start a company not just for ourselves
start a company not just for ourselves
start a company not just for ourselves but one that would fit into the cultural
but one that would fit into the cultural
but one that would fit into the cultural landscape of Jacksonville so we founded
landscape of Jacksonville so we founded
landscape of Jacksonville so we founded Jacksonville Dance Theater our goals
Jacksonville Dance Theater our goals
Jacksonville Dance Theater our goals were clear we wanted to provide the city
were clear we wanted to provide the city
were clear we wanted to provide the city with wonderful professional high caliber
with wonderful professional high caliber
with wonderful professional high caliber modern dance and we wanted to provide
modern dance and we wanted to provide
modern dance and we wanted to provide the
the
the answers with an outlet to perform to
answers with an outlet to perform to
answers with an outlet to perform to create and to be paid to do so and no
create and to be paid to do so and no
create and to be paid to do so and no sooner did we say those words than the
sooner did we say those words than the
sooner did we say those words than the opportunities came rolling in people
opportunities came rolling in people
opportunities came rolling in people really really liked this idea and they
really really liked this idea and they
really really liked this idea and they wanted us to perform everywhere so we
wanted us to perform everywhere so we
wanted us to perform everywhere so we began to teach ourselves how to run a
began to teach ourselves how to run a
began to teach ourselves how to run a dance company from the ground floor up
dance company from the ground floor up
dance company from the ground floor up with no actual ground floor we didn’t
with no actual ground floor we didn’t
with no actual ground floor we didn’t even have a place to dance in yet see
even have a place to dance in yet see
even have a place to dance in yet see back in those early days dance education
back in those early days dance education
back in those early days dance education was twofold one was obvious it was for
was twofold one was obvious it was for
was twofold one was obvious it was for the dancers with the other is for the
the dancers with the other is for the
the dancers with the other is for the community that wants stands to exist in
community that wants stands to exist in
community that wants stands to exist in it art is not free the desire for it is
it art is not free the desire for it is
it art is not free the desire for it is great with the willingness to pay for it
great with the willingness to pay for it
great with the willingness to pay for it was not and so the situation would go
was not and so the situation would go
was not and so the situation would go like this a big organization in town
like this a big organization in town
like this a big organization in town would say we love what you’re doing this
would say we love what you’re doing this
would say we love what you’re doing this is necessary here in Jacksonville we’re
is necessary here in Jacksonville we’re
is necessary here in Jacksonville we’re so excited the quality of the product
so excited the quality of the product
so excited the quality of the product you’re creating is really fantastic we
you’re creating is really fantastic we
you’re creating is really fantastic we would love for you to perform at our
would love for you to perform at our
would love for you to perform at our gala event there is no pay but there is
gala event there is no pay but there is
gala event there is no pay but there is great exposure and at first that was
great exposure and at first that was
great exposure and at first that was okay because we needed exposure but what
okay because we needed exposure but what
okay because we needed exposure but what happens to artists is if you start to
happens to artists is if you start to
happens to artists is if you start to give away the thing that you do people
give away the thing that you do people
give away the thing that you do people stop seeing the value in what you do and
stop seeing the value in what you do and
stop seeing the value in what you do and so over time it went from just us
so over time it went from just us
so over time it went from just us performing for exposure to us not being
performing for exposure to us not being
performing for exposure to us not being provided with water or bathrooms or a
provided with water or bathrooms or a
provided with water or bathrooms or a safe place to warm up or even sit down
safe place to warm up or even sit down
safe place to warm up or even sit down when we weren’t dancing so what do we do
when we weren’t dancing so what do we do
when we weren’t dancing so what do we do well we’re dancers we educate and i
well we’re dancers we educate and i
well we’re dancers we educate and i would start talking and i would continue
would start talking and i would continue
would start talking and i would continue to talk whether or not people would want
to talk whether or not people would want
to talk whether or not people would want to hear it and i talked about what it’s
to hear it and i talked about what it’s
to hear it and i talked about what it’s actually like to be an artist what it
actually like to be an artist what it
actually like to be an artist what it takes to train the time the money the
takes to train the time the money the
takes to train the time the money the effort the passion the sacrifice what it
effort the passion the sacrifice what it
effort the passion the sacrifice what it takes to run a dance company what
takes to run a dance company what
takes to run a dance company what happens if there is no dance company
happens if there is no dance company
happens if there is no dance company what happens to all of our students that
what happens to all of our students that
what happens to all of our students that are studying dance here what happens if
are studying dance here what happens if
are studying dance here what happens if our artists leave
our artists leave
our artists leave and something really great happened
and something really great happened
and something really great happened people started paying us we started
people started paying us we started
people started paying us we started getting donations and then it got to a
getting donations and then it got to a
getting donations and then it got to a point where when they would ask us to
point where when they would ask us to
point where when they would ask us to dance for free I would say thank you
dance for free I would say thank you
dance for free I would say thank you know Jacksonville dance theatre was
know Jacksonville dance theatre was
know Jacksonville dance theatre was founded by a group of artists that love
founded by a group of artists that love
founded by a group of artists that love the city they lived in and wanted to do
the city they lived in and wanted to do
the city they lived in and wanted to do what they loved in that city we’re
what they loved in that city we’re
what they loved in that city we’re currently in our fifth season and we
currently in our fifth season and we
currently in our fifth season and we have 18 paid professional dancers thank
have 18 paid professional dancers thank
have 18 paid professional dancers thank you jacksonville is not its not New York
you jacksonville is not its not New York
you jacksonville is not its not New York it’s not Los Angeles it’s not Chicago
it’s not Los Angeles it’s not Chicago
it’s not Los Angeles it’s not Chicago but Jacksonville has this infrastructure
but Jacksonville has this infrastructure
but Jacksonville has this infrastructure that supports a thriving performing arts
that supports a thriving performing arts
that supports a thriving performing arts culture and because we’re not New York
culture and because we’re not New York
culture and because we’re not New York and we’re not Chicago we can create our
and we’re not Chicago we can create our
and we’re not Chicago we can create our own aesthetic and that aesthetic can
own aesthetic and that aesthetic can
own aesthetic and that aesthetic can breathe and grow and change with time
breathe and grow and change with time
breathe and grow and change with time and that is our offering to the greater
and that is our offering to the greater
and that is our offering to the greater dance world ultimately dance is the
dance world ultimately dance is the
dance world ultimately dance is the language I speak it’s the energy that I
language I speak it’s the energy that I
language I speak it’s the energy that I need to live my life so when I was put
need to live my life so when I was put
need to live my life so when I was put into a situation where there was no
into a situation where there was no
into a situation where there was no company I worked to create one I needed
company I worked to create one I needed
company I worked to create one I needed it for me the dancers and the directors
it for me the dancers and the directors
it for me the dancers and the directors needed it for them but what came as a
needed it for them but what came as a
needed it for them but what came as a great surprise were the audience members
great surprise were the audience members
great surprise were the audience members they told me I didn’t know I needed this
they told me I didn’t know I needed this
they told me I didn’t know I needed this but I did they needed it to the story
but I did they needed it to the story
but I did they needed it to the story doesn’t end here we have a long way to
doesn’t end here we have a long way to
doesn’t end here we have a long way to go we work hard we still work to pay our
go we work hard we still work to pay our
go we work hard we still work to pay our dancers more Commission and
dancers more Commission and
dancers more Commission and choreographed more work do more concerts
choreographed more work do more concerts
choreographed more work do more concerts do more touring but I know because of
do more touring but I know because of
do more touring but I know because of the community of artists and because of
the community of artists and because of
the community of artists and because of the community of Jacksonville these
the community of Jacksonville these
the community of Jacksonville these dreams can become a reality thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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