LMCtech Posted June 29, 2001 Share Posted June 29, 2001 I often find myself in the uncomfortable position of working in the ballet world, but dancing in the modern world. I see both sides of all the issues we have been discussing here lately and especially the ever popular body type issue, and I end up feeling like I'm "too ballet for modern and too modern for ballet".Does anyone else ever feel like this? (Feel free to move this wherever it needs to go, y'all. I couldn't figure out where to post it.) Link to comment
Alexandra Posted June 29, 2001 Share Posted June 29, 2001 Putting it here is fine, but thanks for asking. The original idea of this site was to be able to discuss anything, but within the context that there were differences. This has usually been difficult to do, but in this instance, it may be possible. I'm not in that position, but I can see the dilemma. You might be the perfect "third stream" person. (This is the most attractive term I've ever read for contemporary dance.) [ 06-29-2001: Message edited by: alexandra ] Link to comment
Leigh Witchel Posted June 30, 2001 Share Posted June 30, 2001 Actually, LMC, you're not alone in feeling like you might fall through the cracks. My situation is obviously different and in some ways opposite. There are very few people working independently in the ballet world, it's an organizational model mostly followed at this point by non-ballet. So I'm way too small to be taken seriously "uptown" and far too conservative for "downtown". I've done more contemporary work, and it was enlightening and useful, but I'm not a fusion choreographer and I just don't have a contemporary sensibility. My set designer (who danced with the Cunningham company) loves to rib me that I should always aim for Pina Bausch, because if I try for tanztheater I might end up somewhere slightly to the left of Agon! Also, at this point, when ballet companies are looking for an outside choreographer, they are often looking for novelty, which has a legitimate spot in a company's rep, but it isn't the spot I fill most handily. My advice to those who fall through the cracks is to do your own thing, but be prepared to have immense stamina. If you do it long, well, and honestly enough, sooner or later you'll find friends and people will even admit you had a right to do it all along! [ 06-30-2001: Message edited by: Leigh Witchel ] Link to comment
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