JULY EDITION ISSUE 6, VOLUME 1 2018
OLD SCHOOL VS NEW AGE DANCE TEACHING STYLES WHAT'S MORE EFFECTIVE?
SWAN LAKE REVIEW
ST PETERSBURG BALLET THEATRE
INSIDE MAMMA MIA! THE MUSICAL IRINAÂ KOLESNIKOVA Q&A
DANCE WRITER
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RUTH LETCH
JENENE LAND
HAYDEE FERGUSON
Hands on hips, impatiently waving her fairy wand, my dramatic little three-year-old announced that she wanted to go to dance class with her best friend. ‘Sure’, I thought, ‘Sounds like fun.’ Nine years later, she lives and breathes dance. From musical theatre to classical ballet, she loves to perform, her smile lighting up the stage with the pure joy of entertaining.
There are children everywhere with big dreams to be like the movie stars on the silver screen. They desperately want to be just like their idols, to portray different characters, and receive the accolades that come along with it. But, how do they get from sitting at home to being on the big screen?
In 1978 the term RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) was devised by Dr. Gabe Mirkin for the treatment of athletic injuries. 40 years later, a lot more research has been done and it shows ice is actually harming, rather than healing our bodies! Even Dr Mirkin has recently publically stated that his recommendations are outdated! So what do you do in a first aid protocol? BE CALM.
But what if they don’t start dancing until their teenage years?
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Dance like no one is watching.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jessica Poulter
COVER PHOTOGRAPHER Leah Hoffman, Diva Dance Photography
GALA PHOTOGRAPHER Alicia Ruberto, New Dimension Photography
REVIEWERS Jessica Poulter, Ruth Letch, Sandra Kluge (NYC)
COLUMNISTS Sandra Kluge (NYC), Ruth Letch, Sian Corrigan (Paris), Jenene Land and Haydee Ferguson.
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DANCE WRITER
CONTENTS 6 MAMMA MIA Exclusive with the Choreographer
20 Health Advice from The Dancer's Pod
Swan Lake review p. 9
22 Your physiotherapy guide with Haydee Ferguson
4 Editor's Note 6 Mamma Mia - Up close with choreographer Tom Hodgson 8-10 Irina Kolesnikova and St Petersburg Ballet’s Swan Lake: where love conquers all Review 4.5 stars 12 Brianna Taylor The Australian tap star makes new ground in a Los Angeles Tap Company 17 Dance mum perspective: Ruth Letch column Is age a barrier to dance success? 20 The Dancer's Pod column by Jenene Land This year's most-awaited thriller 22 BE CALM - Physiotherapy with Haydee Ferguson Forget RICE, here is the new method to first aid
DANCE WRITER CHARITY GALA 'HER' proudly supporting NBCF Dance Writer's 2nd annual charity gala is fast approaching! Book your tickets at www.gasworks.org.au/events/her
25 Sian Corrigan column 'No Standing Only Dancing' Sian's transition overseas to pursue a dance career 26 Ambassador Chat DANCE WRITER MAGAZINE | 3
A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
Dance Writer is still coming down from hosting a
We have so much to look forward to in this edition,
successful networking day 'How To Be A Dance
with our regular contributors back on board and a
Entrepreneur'. It was truly fabulous to meet like-
new columnist Haydee Ferguson, who is a
minded individuals who want to grow their
physiotherapist. She will be providing much of the
businesses and connect with others in the industry.
health-related content for Dance Writer. We are
We had a flurry of guest speakers discussing the
pleased to have her on board!
power of marketing, branding and what others say about your brand when you are not in the room.
It is with great excitement that we host our annual
The day proved that Dance Writer is more than just
charity gala in August this year proudly supporting
producing content, we are for our community and
National Breast Cancer Foundation. Dancers
for our industry.
Australia-wide flock to perform at this event including the wonderful Lucy Doherty who
Our last edition 'Ode To Breast Cancer Warriors'
tragically lost her mum to breast cancer. We are
was the most heartfelt issue to piece together.
also proud to have KEZRA, Issac Main and Alanna
Writing about so many brave women who had
Davidson as our singers for the evening who are all
innocently tackled one of the world's ferocious
incredible and awe-inspiring in their own right.
diseases was a challenge, but also gave me
Tickets are on sale shortly via gasworks.org.au
strength knowing anything is possible if you have the passion to believe. Many stories had a common theme; that dance truly saved their lives. it just shows how much dance can influence our lives. I would not have started a dance magazine if it
JESSICA POULTER
wasn't for my ongoing passion for the art of dance.
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INSIDE MAMMA MIA: THE CHOREOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE WITH TOM HODGSON
DANCE WRITER PROFILE
by Jessica Poulter
Now, he is the choreographer of Mamma Mia! The Musical where he was approached by director Gary Young asking if he would take the creative position. Mr Hodgson jumped at the opportunity with openness.
Mamma Mia! The Musical starring Sarah Morrison and Natalie O’Donnell comes to Melbourne this July, exerting choreography that is explosive and original. Dance Writer chats to the choreographer of this Australian tour Tom Hodgson. Mamma Mia! The Musical is coming to Melbourne this July after showstopping seasons in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. Audiences around Australia have all been completely receptive—particularly towards the choreography. Tom Hodgson is a UK-born performer and choreographer.
With extensive performance experience in global dance companies including DV8 Physical Theatre, Ricochet Dance Company, Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, Conny Janssen Danst, Dansity Amsterdam, Lucerne Ballet, Sue Healey and more. As a choreographer, he has worked with productions such as Matilda The Musical (International Associate Choreographer in Korea and in Australia) and Billy Elliot The Musical (International Associate Choreographer Japan and Korea, Resident Choreographer Broadway and Australia).
Mr Hodgson choreographed the musical to have the same essence as the movie starring Meryl Streep, but also be completely unique and original. “No denying the music plays a massive part in inspiring the movement for the show, it is dramatic and fantastical,” said Mr Hodgson. “I did try to make my work have a contemporary twist and draw on a wider styles,” he added. Mr Hodgson’s explosive and energetic choreography is performed by all the cast including the leads during their vocals. Audiences have truly loved the dynamic movements because it is simple enough to dance along but also complex to challenge the ensemble.
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ST PETERSBURG BALLET’S SWAN LAKE
WHERE LOVE CONQUERS ALL This extravaganza of celebration foreshadows the fall of the Prince. The choreography builds in tension along with Tchaikovsky’s familiar score. An entrancing crescendo occurs as we watch Odile’s entrapment of Siegfried. Meanwhile, the audience is drawn to silently beg him to recognise the despair of his beautiful and entrancing Odette. Clever use of staging and choreography increase the momentum of the performance, leading the dancers and the audience to
the inevitable final acceptance of Odile and the subsequent heartbreak of the Prince and his true love, Odette. The only recommendation to make this production flawless would be to have an accompaniment by a full orchestra, which is a difficult achievement for an international touring production. However, with or without live instrumentals, I gave in to the raw emotion and gently shed tears.
Simple and romantic, the lake scenes are an absolute stand out. Nikolai Shlein’s use of lighting creates shade and shadow; the soft and almost-surreal backdrop allows us to feel the dancers’ emotion while marvelling at their technique. Odette is beautifully complemented by the cohesion of the corps, painting picturesque memories which will stay with us forever. By Ruth Letch
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Dance Writer chats exclusively to tapping powerhouse Brianna Taylor, the first Aussie accepted into Nick Young's Tap Company...
TAPPING INTO FEMALE POWER: BRIANNA TAYLOR You are a tap sensation not only in Australia but also in Paris and now LA! How does it feel knowing you are the first Australian to be accepted residency to Nick Young’s Rhythmatic Tap Company? I couldn’t be more grateful for these opportunities I’ve had in my career and I am humbled to be apart of Rhythmatic Tap Company and Nick’s vision for our new show ‘On Top of the World’. I’ve been fortunate enough to work and train in the industry overseas and connect with different artists in the tap dance scene and through those connections Nick approached me about a role within the show he was creating and it all happened from there. I have since performed the show on two different occasions with the company, Bermuda earlier this year and recently in LA. We are also set to perform in San Diego and LA in July and August. I am beyond excited to be apart of this company and perform with these incredible artists who inspire me, it is only the beginning for Rhythmatic. Who taught you how to tap and take it to the next level?
I grew up in Far North Qld, Mackay, were I first learnt to tap with my teacher, Christine Denny who is an incredible role model for female tap dancers in Australia. My passion for tap dance grew as I started training under the direction of Grant Swift in Melbourne, who has definitely played a big part in shaping my style and understanding of the art form and it’s history. I first took class with Jason Samuel Smith and Chloe Arnold when I was 16 years old and I remember feeling so incredibly inspired and hungry to expand my knowledge. I have since trained in America under some of best in the industry including, Michelle Dorrance, Derick Grant, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Jason Samuel Smith, Chloe Arnold, Jason Janas and Sarah Reich as well as one of the great masters of the art form Dr Arthur Duncan during the LA Tap Festival. I don’t believe you have to start at a certain age to attain a high level of skills in the art form. I believe if you are passionate or hungry enough and willing to learn you will put in the time and practice needed to progress. It does help starting the fundamentals as a child but it certainly doesn’t mean the art form is limited by age; you can definitely pick up tap dancing at anytime!
Tap Sensation Brianna Taylor We don’t see many tap dancers like you so it is great when an Aussie female tapper makes her presence known. Explain how you want to empower other female tappers to make it internationally? Within the industry, particularly in Australia there hasn’t been an enormous amount of opportunities for females in the art form, growing up most of my teachers and mentors were males, and most touring tap shows only had roles available for males. I want other young girls who have the same dream as me when I was growing up to know the possibilities of what they can create and achieve, by not feeling limited and by being that role model for them to look up to. I want to inspire the future generation of young female tap dancers and to create more opportunities for them in the industry, by putting Aussie female tap dancers on the map internationally. How can you add value to the tap industry against some critics say it is a dying style of dance? Tap dance is definitely not a dying art form; in fact it is alive and kicking more than ever. We are seeing a noticeable increase in the amount of tap dancing on Australian stages within the musical theatre industry and more touring tap companies in the country than ever before. With the world of social media I also believe we are seeing tap dancing making it’s mark online and reaching a larger market of people. Tap dance is definitely on the rise and I feel it is only going to increase in popularity.
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You are also a Capezio athlete—congratulations on this role. How does Capezio assist with your journey and support the tap industry on an international scale? I feel so incredibly grateful to represent a brand I believe in so much. I have been wearing Capezio K360 tap shoes my entire professional career and I couldn’t recommend them enough. Capezio is like a family; they have always been there to support me throughout my career by providing me with my favourite custom shoes! It’s amazing to be apart of a global brand that truly believes in the artists they sponsor.
You are coming back to Australia at the end of September to perform in the Aus Tap Dance Festival. Are you excited to bring international knowledge to an Australian audience? I always love being apart of the Australian Tap Dance Festival each year and sharing my knowledge with all of the students. As much as I love performing, I equally love teaching and giving back to the younger generation. Every time I am overseas I feel more and more inspired by the artists I get to work and train with, so as a teacher it’s important to continue to feel inspired by learning and growing; we are forever students of the art form. American tap repertoire focuses strongly on rhythm and musicality as well as the history of the art form, which is what I feel Australia needs to implement in regular classes. Tap dance is a limitless art form and I’m so excited to see how it grows particular in our country with more artists that are continually being innovative and creating new work and opportunities within the industry.