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Every year, Vail, CO, identified primarily for its ski and snowboard prowess, turns into a summer season camp for dance stars when it hosts the Vail Dance Competition for 13 days of superior dance artistry. Beneath the course of Damian Woetzel, the competition brings collectively corporations and freelance artists from all around the nation to collaborate, create and carry out in the great thing about the mountains. This yr, for the primary time, the competition welcomes two co-artists-in-residence, dancer Sara Mearns of New York Metropolis Ballet and prolific impartial choreographer Jamar Roberts. Dance Informa chatted with each artists about what excites them about this position, the work they’ll be making and why Vail Dance Competition weaves magic into the on a regular basis.
This isn’t your first time at Vail Dance Competition, and I’m positive you’ve each performed residencies earlier than. Is that this the primary time you’ve ever been in additional of a management position? What does a choreographic artist-in-residence appear to be, and the way did it come about?
Sara Mearns
“That is the primary time I’ve been singled out on this manner, in order that’s very cool. Damian referred to as me to speak about what I needed to do at Vail this yr, and mentioned he thought I might be good as an artist-in-residence. I believed he was joking. There are such a lot of different people who have a a lot larger social media presence, advertising and all these items. That’s what folks search for nowadays once they make choices like this at each large establishment. And I simply don’t have that in comparison with a whole lot of different folks. However he mentioned, ‘No, it’s not about that. We wish to honor you and what you’ve performed.’”
Jamar Roberts
“I don’t assume I’ve seen in years previous the place they’ve performed choreographer artist-in-residence. I might be flawed, however more often than not, they’re at all times dancers. So what does it entail? I assume they’ll function a few of my work from the previous, most likely small excerpts. I’ll do some interviews, masterclasses and create a brand new work whereas I’m there.”
For each of you, this would be the first time working collectively. How do you’re feeling concerning the dancer/choreographer collaboration?
Roberts
“It’s very thrilling. I at all times get to work with somebody I’ve by no means labored with earlier than at Vail, however this yr it’ll be Sara who I’ve admired from afar however have by no means been within the studio truly creating together with her. I set a chunk on New York Metropolis Ballet a number of years in the past, so we’ve talked a bit however by no means for lengthy! I can let you know the piece with Sara expounds on a trio that Damian had me create on the spot for the final competition.”
Mearns
“I simply know that I’m going to work with him. We’ve admired one another from afar for a lot of, a few years. I used to be obsessive about him when he was an Ailey. However I don’t know what it’s going to be. And that’s thrilling to me. I generally don’t even need know. I simply wish to stroll within the studio and be a sponge. You may’t are available with a set manner of doing issues. In case you actually wish to make one thing nice or particular or attention-grabbing, you need to meet the opposite particular person the place they’re each single day, and you need to go away your ego on the door. They’ll meet you there as nicely, and also you’ll come collectively on this manner.”
It looks as if there’s a little bit of magic embedded within the Vail Dance Competition expertise. Are you able to every share a bit of about in the event you’ve felt that and in what manner?
Mearns
“You might have this lengthy drive within the mountains, and also you arrive at this place in the midst of nowhere. All the sudden, the air is evident. You may really feel the character, you’ll be able to see it. You may sit and simply be in it, and it’s silent. I simply fall in love with the peace of being there and the peace it gave my physique and my thoughts, and I used to be in a position to focus fully on the work.”
Roberts
“It’s peaceable. It’s quiet, and I’m a fan of peace and quiet. It additionally permits me time to course of my ideas, as a result of if you’re at all times on the go, you don’t actually at all times get the psychological area. As a lot as I do know I’ll be working there, it’ll even be a respite from the each day grind I’m usually in. I really feel like we’re nearer to the sky there, too. You’re nearer to climate forming, and the begins are a bit of brighter.”
Vail Dance Competition runs from July 26-August 5, will function a number of corporations and artists along with Sara Mearns and Jamar Roberts, and undoubtably unfold some peace and magic to these in attendance.
For extra info, go to vaildance.org.
By Emily Sarkissian of Dance Informa.
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