Nextfest

I recently saw some old students in a show on the weekend. Young dancers are so starved. They love to move and they are so intense about what they do. It bothers me that within the arts, there is a startling simple of passing on of information. Mentorship is a buzzword now, but from what I can see, those who know what they are doing aren’t telling others how they do it. Why would they? It creates competition for themselves and young dancers are enough of a threat simply because they are not broken!

So the choreographic process happens in a vacuum and it shows. Styles may get copied, but substance is seemingly missed entirely. 

If I were the queen of the world (and Droste chocolate was the common currency), young artists would be supported more by established ones. And maybe people’s work wouldn’t suck so often.

It is funny how consuming art in your own field can sometimes be totally inspiring (Pina Bausch, Karas, Marie Chouinard) and at other times be a bore and a chore. The internal critic just doesn’t allow for full simple enjoyment- you have too much insider information and it spoils the magic that you once craved in that medium.

That’s when I read a book or go see a movie.

~ by gerrydance on June 13, 2008.