In the lead up to the performance of FRONTERA at NYUAD’s Red Theatre, we talk to Dana Gingras, the choreographer of the show and founder of multimedia dance company Animals of Distinction. Dana talks about her creative process and how she strives to produce shows that are viscerally engaging, experiential and kinetic. She shares how she balances and tweaks her choreography to accommodate different spaces and contexts – inhabiting her audience’s gaze – and what it actually takes to put a show together.
Dana gives us insight into how the collaboration between Animals of Distinction, Fly Pan Am and United Visual Artists culminates into what NYU Abu Dhabi’s Art Center calls “a visually stunning spectacle of propulsive dance, powerful live post-rock, and dazzling lighting.” Finally, we asked Dana for advice she would give to aspiring dancers and her take on what’s trending in the dance world right now. FRONTERA is on at the NYUAD on the 12th and 13th October 2023.
0:00 Introduction
1:02 Expectations vs Reality When It Comes to Performing Arts
3:12 Dana, Animals of Distinction and Her “Professional Identity”
6:21 Changing Approaches to Filmmaking/Choreography and Dana’s Creative Process
9:53 Who Is Involved in the Production?
12:46 What Was FRONTERA About When You First Started Working on It vs Now?
16:26 Taking a Show on the Road and out of Its Context
18:40 Dana’s Emotional Reaction to Her Own Pieces
20:05 Dana’s Creative Process
23:36 Fly Pan Am and Dana’s Dos and Don’ts for Aspiring Dancers
27:15 Dana’s Role Models and Key Figures of Inspiration
29:08 Must-Watch Dance Shows, Films and Documentaries
31:51 What Inspires Tweaks From One Show to Another?
33:32 Emerging Dance and Choreography Trends
36:12 Do Borders Still Exist Between Regional Styles of Dance?
38:10 Upcoming Projects and Advice Dana Would Give Her Younger Self
41:34 Dana’s Side Hustle
42:58 Quick Q&A
Animals of Distinction (AOD) is the multimedia dance company of renowned choreographer and dancer Dana Gingras. Through AOD, Gingras has fostered the creation of numerous cutting-edge works that have involved innovative collaborations across diverse mediums and artistic practices, all shaped by the possibilities of new technologies and cultural shifts. The choreographer explores spaces of inclusion and exclusion, tackling borders as boundaries between the public and private realms. AOD’s nine dancers contend with the ideas of a real or imaginary dividing line, and the extreme limits of understanding.
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London-based art practice United Visual Artists (UVA) creates a spectacular world of light. Founded in 2003 by British artist Matt Clark, its diverse body of work integrates new technologies with traditional media such as painting, sculpture, performance and site-specific installation. Paired with Canadian experimental rock band (formed in Montreal in 1996) Fly Pan Am’s live, gripping, post-rock beats and field recordings by Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s Dave Bryant, they form a dynamic, visual conversation between choreography, architecture and sound.
afikra and The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi join forces to bring you captivating one-hour interviews with an array of talented performers and artists showcasing the rich tapestry of music, theater, drama and poetry. Step into the minds of these visionary creators as they delve into their craft, revealing the inspirations and stories behind their extraordinary performances.
The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi offers NYUAD compelling programming that connects to the curriculum and illuminates the scholarly pursuits of students and faculty. Its range of public programs aim to animate and enrich the cultural life of both the city of Abu Dhabi and the university through interaction. As a vibrant laboratory for performance that both presents and develops work, The Arts Center fosters a dynamic relationship between the arts, scholarship and community.
Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 [ Ссылка ]
Hosted by:
Mikey Muhanna 👉 [ Ссылка ]
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afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
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