2017 will herald a year of growth for Co3 with the expansion of our stable of dancers. We are delighted to welcome two new City of Perth developing artists from LINK Dance Company, Tanya Brown and Antonio Rinaldi.
Both Tanya and Antonio worked with Raewyn Hill and the Company dancers last year in the creation of ‘the cry’. 2017 will see them grow under the guidance of Raewyn and perform in her new work ‘THE ZONE’ later in the year.
We thought we’d have a chat with Tanya and Antonio to let you get to know a bit more about our newest dancers.
How would you describe contemporary dance?
AR: Contemporary dance encompasses (almost) anything and everything in life. It is like the human condition 70% of the time. It is an art form- or as we’re constantly reminded, a lifestyle choice and that is utterly accurate. It is a lifestyle choice- one that is often as ambiguous or avant-garde or literal as it wants to be. It’s much the same as classical, but with different concepts here and there, perhaps a different outcome- maybe less extravagant in set design and costume, but maybe not.
TB: I find this one difficult to explain. To anyone down the street I say, it’s kind of the bare feet dance, that’s free and is a mix of everything, but then is it really that? It can be so many things. It is free. It can take you anywhere you are willing to go. Together, alone. Past, present, future. Memories, stories, histories.
What are some of the challenges involved with being a dancer?
AR: I find being malleable a monumental challenge. The ability to conform to and separate from, work with or work autonomously; to be a muse for your choreographer- even to your fellow dancers in the space- there is great responsibility in this. I’ve been stuck with something Raewyn Hill said to us once in the studio – that it was a sacred place and that’s how you must treat it.
TB: I think there is something powerful in being able to overcome all those challenges that come against us daily, in whatever you do. As a dancer we face long hours, which can lead to tiredness and fatigue, making body care crucial. Injury can happen in a blink of an eye sometimes. There can be a lack of resources, not getting paid much and people don’t always support your choice. You might need to work multiple jobs to sustain a living, or go searching travelling to find work. It’s not always accessible to a wide audience, you want to share it with people, but it can be hard to spread around. Competitiveness and ego can threaten the spirit of the dance. It can also sometimes be challenging to be so vulnerable and honest in front of people all the time.
How would you describe your time with Co3 so far?
AR: What was most wonderful to me was the ability to be implicated into a re-mounting of a previous work – and see the growth from that point onwards. It was a stunning progression to watch – the dancers were awe-inspiring in their demeanours and their character strengths, though it was a real luxury to watch an artistic director in all her idiosyncrasy because I have such a concentrated keenness for choreographing.
TB: It’s really just beginning! How exciting!
What do you love most about contemporary dance?
AR: It depends entirely on the day and the mood I’m in. Some days, I come to the studio- and I have such a real adulation for my fellow dancers – I get all geeked out watching somebody flick an arm or roll around making wild animal noises while assuming the role of an incapacitated entity – (I’m odd that way) or whatever it is they’re doing in the moment. I think I even begin to smile or tilt my head down like I’m possessed; I’ve been called out on it many a time. Other days, when matters don’t run as smoothly, it’s a little more difficult to find that stillness within yourself. Honestly, the chance to just have a groove and get down sometimes is really all the soul food you need- chuck on some old Motown and boogie yourself to culmination.
TB: How it connects people, empowers people, frees people, challenges people and inspires people. How it can be anything from spinning around on the kitchen floor, moving on stage in front of thousands and you could hear a pin drop, to a bunch of all ages moving together as one.
Catch both of our new developing artists in Raewyn Hill’s ‘THE ZONE’ later this year. Two-show and single tickets are now on sale for ‘Frank Enstein’ and ‘THE ZONE’ – BOOK NOW!
Co3’s developing artist program is proudly supported by the City of Perth.