Henning Rübsam is creative director of SENSEDANCE, on school at Juilliard (the place he launched a dance historical past program for the general public) and the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program in New York, and has been a visiting visitor artist at a number of firms and internationally. Right here, we communicate with Rübsam about his creative strategy, measuring success and what’s on the horizon.
What’s your journey to discovering dance?
“As a toddler, rising up in Marburg, Germany, I used to be at all times singing and dancing. Fortunately, my mother and father enrolled me in dance courses, which I beloved. Ultimately, I needed to determine what path to take and though I skilled in ballet (and attended the Hamburg Opera Ballet College), it didn’t really feel fairly proper till I realized about fashionable dance. I auditioned for Juilliard and moved to America to pursue my goals. Juilliard offered the very best coaching and afterward – via working with Alwin Nikolais and particularly with Beverly Blossom – the affect of Hanya Holm, a compatriot who introduced ‘weltanschauung,’ the orientation of a person or society encompassing the entire of the person’s or society’s data, tradition and viewpoint, solid my outlook on the planet of recent dance.”
Inform us about your performing profession. You’ve danced with some American fashionable dance pioneers.
“Though I used to be skilled in ballet, I used to be drawn to the fashionable dance world which was much less hierarchical, and extra democratic within the spirit of Holm. Whereas nonetheless at Juilliard, I toured internationally with the Limón Dance Firm and after graduating, I danced with Duncan Macfarland, the Nikolais/Louis Firm and Beverly Blossom, who grew to become a mentor, and plenty of impartial artistic artists. However as a choreographer, I’ve strived to seamlessly combine ballet and fashionable dance, particularly once I began finding out ballet with Eva Evdokimova (one of many choose few who received to be named “prima ballerina assoluta”). She was the primary foreigner with the Royal Danish Ballet and have become a world star along with her dwelling firms being the Berlin Opera and London Pageant Ballet (now English Nationwide Ballet). She was an incredible affect on me, and we loved spending time seeing and speaking about dance. Her high-quality eye and evaluation of a dancer’s efficiency knowledgeable me as a choreographer in addition to a author.”
What was essentially the most tough second (or moments) of being a dancer in NYC?
“Accidents. At one level, I had an damage that took a very long time to heal and needed to discover completely different work. A good friend labored for a transferring firm and so they wanted an accountant. I taught myself Quickbooks actually shortly! I walked into the interview with a dancer’s confidence, received the job and labored there for 2 months. It was a desk job, so once I was healed, I used to be able to get again to dancing.”
How do you measure your individual success?
“I make a dwelling choreographing, performing, educating, writing and producing. I need to construct connections exterior of the performing arts world and get folks enthusiastic about dance. I’m excited about selling the human cultural heritage of dance as an artist, and my identification as a dancer is about making connections with everybody I meet.”
You’re an energetic choreographer, with your individual firm, SENSEDANCE, and also you simply obtained a NYSCA choreography grant. You additionally work as a visitor artist and on fee work. Are you able to discuss your model and strategy to choreography?
“I like to start out within the studio on my own, drawing on my past love of singing and dancing and begin with motion and sound, connecting the breath. All of the dancing and coaching creates bodily habits. I don’t use counts once I transfer, however I wish to suppose I’m very musical. I draw on all my motion coaching: ballet, modern and fashionable dance, and musicals. I search for dancers who can converse with music, who’re delicate to rhythm and time. Generally I get push again as a result of I’m not counting however emphasizing the music. However, then what emerges is one thing magical and exquisite as a result of dancers faucet into their true sense of expressivity. I additionally wish to create a spread of choreography in several dance types which is expressed in my commissions and work with my firm. Final yr, Monarcas – impressed by the migrating butterflies – was carried out by a world forged, in addition to youngsters, as a part of gala performances produced by vildwerk. I made an look as a non-dancing character in road garments, observing the butterflies and, ultimately, received as much as attempt to be a part of them on their journey. After all, it’s a metaphor or analogy of the previous man who needs to participate within the dance of life. The dancers, together with ABT’s Luciana Paris, The Royal Ballet’s Fernando Montaño and Eriko Sugimura who danced with Complexions, whimsically explored the stage in reference to the fluttery and free nature of butterflies.”
What’s on the horizon?
“The NYSCA grant I obtained is for a collaboration with Random Entry Music Ensemble with reveals in November, 2025 at Westbeth, the place I had my first present in 1992, so it’s like a homecoming. I’m additionally working with Lycée Français in New York, on a present based mostly on Amélie, and I’m thrilled to be dancing(!) a solo program that can premiere on the competition Dissidanse in Corsica this July.”
You’ll be able to observe Henning Rübsam on Instagram: @sensedancer.
By Nicole Colbert of Dance Informa.
