Photos courtesy of Arts Umbrella
By Tayvie Van Eeuwen
@tayvieeee
Above any other art form, dance has long been considered a language understood by all. With its primary roots based in movement, nothing can separate audiences from understanding its conceptual emotions and stories. However, training dancers to convey messages through movement is far from easy.
This is where the Arts Umbrella, a longstanding staple in Vancouver’s growing dance community, continues to push boundaries. Facilitating the artistic direction of the company is Artemis Gordon, a veteran of ballet and contemporary styles. Her vision expands beyond simply rehearsing choreography and into exploring the relational dynamic of dance worldwide.
“The real intention of the program at Arts Umbrella is to investigate each person’s worldview. You come to me with your worldview of dance being this and you leave with it being everything,” says Gordon.
The innovative and rigorous program at Arts Umbrella forces students to ask big-picture questions about the economy, society, class system, gender, and culture. While this may prompt confusion at first, Gordon affirms that it’s the way they prepare students for a successful life.
“We ask: How does gender affect your work and what company you’re in? How does politics and the world economy shifting change your daily practice as a dancer? As we all travel all over the world to dance, how does the underneath culture of different places treat women?” Gordon asks.
“How do they pay artists? How does that culture support you when you’re old? How does that region deal with injury? How do they look at family?”
These questions help prepare dancers mentally, but to physically support their growth and technique, Arts Umbrella has another method: partnerships with international choreographers. From Dutch and Turkish artists, to others from the USA and Switzerland, the cultural value of these teachings cannot be overstated.
Gordon proposes that in order to communicate universally through the physical aspect of dance, you have to first examine the world- both artistically and educationally. This broad reaching nature of the Arts Umbrella program is equally provocative and uncomfortable.
“We’re really trying to do the thing that the choreographer wants, which is beyond our comfort zone. No one gets to do what they know,” Gordon says.
“These are the things that I think make for a really thoughtful and valuable person in the room as an artist, but also someone that is interesting to watch.”
Later this month, Arts Umbrella will present the opportunity to witness their valuable and in-depth teachings to the public. From May 23-25, Vancouverites can watch their year end performance BE MOVED, featuring bold and inventive works.
The audience can expect cutting-edge choreography, paired with routine and unconventional aspects of ballet. In her experience, Gordon’s 28 years of artistic direction has boasted only positive reviews.
“Every year someone comes up to me and says, ‘I was forced to come because of someone I know, and now I will come every year. I had no idea that it was of this caliber, I wept, and I’ll be back.’”
Watch BE MOVED from May 23-25 at the Vancouver Playhouse. The performance will feature Vancouver youth in the Arts Umbrella Dance Program. It will also include works by Crystal Pite, Emily Molnar, Johan Inger, Lesley Telford, James Kudelka, Mats Ek, and Amos Ben-Tal. Buy tickets here.
A self-declared witch, Tayvie spends her time with all things magic. She loves a good sunset, iced coffee, and every known essential oil. Catch her chilling with her black-cat sidekick, Shadow, and hiding by the ocean. Look for her bold eyebrows and vintage style, and you’re bound to find her.
