Interview with Client
What is something you think is different in Contemporary Dance studios, compared to more classical dance buildings?
"I think one essential thing, that isn't often thought about to be designed specifically for contemporary dancers is the floor materials. Contemporary mainly involves floor work, where dancers must be able to move smoothly around the floor, and the floor type cannot be an obstruction for this. Basically, no wooden floors!"
Who are some of dancers that inspire your work and approach to dance the most?
"Definitely Ohad Naharin is a legend within contemporary, and an artist I admire very much. I am especially fascinated by the Gaga Dance Movement Language that he has started, and this is something I know inspires dancers around the world. It helps focus on the rhythms and organic movements of the body, and lets that be the direction to the way we direct our body. Another choreographer I am inspired by is Akram Khan. His approach is very different from Naharin, where dancers are led by more 'sharp' movements.
Finally, I am a big fan of Damien Jalet. I think his set ups are beautiful- very elegant- and puts focus on the individual dancers.
What I really like about these three choreographers, and what I think symbolizes contemporary dance very well is the inclusiveness. It is something anyone can become a part of, and there is no right or wrong in the same way as there is in more classical dance styles."
What is something you wish would be more apparent in dance studios?
In many of the pieces I have performed in, the last weeks before the premier has always been a struggle because suddenly we are moving from the studio and onto a stage. For months we have been practicing in the same space, and we have gotten used to the area around us, the distance between things, and the positioning of the other dancers as well as the walls etc. Then, moving onto a stage, everything changes and we only have a week or so to get accustomed. Some of the places I've enjoyed dancing in the most are the places where studios and stages and similar, and it is a smooth transition going from one to the other. It means we can focus more on the choreography, synchronisation and movements, rather than having to get used to the space.
"I think one essential thing, that isn't often thought about to be designed specifically for contemporary dancers is the floor materials. Contemporary mainly involves floor work, where dancers must be able to move smoothly around the floor, and the floor type cannot be an obstruction for this. Basically, no wooden floors!"
Who are some of dancers that inspire your work and approach to dance the most?
"Definitely Ohad Naharin is a legend within contemporary, and an artist I admire very much. I am especially fascinated by the Gaga Dance Movement Language that he has started, and this is something I know inspires dancers around the world. It helps focus on the rhythms and organic movements of the body, and lets that be the direction to the way we direct our body. Another choreographer I am inspired by is Akram Khan. His approach is very different from Naharin, where dancers are led by more 'sharp' movements.
Finally, I am a big fan of Damien Jalet. I think his set ups are beautiful- very elegant- and puts focus on the individual dancers.
What I really like about these three choreographers, and what I think symbolizes contemporary dance very well is the inclusiveness. It is something anyone can become a part of, and there is no right or wrong in the same way as there is in more classical dance styles."
What is something you wish would be more apparent in dance studios?
In many of the pieces I have performed in, the last weeks before the premier has always been a struggle because suddenly we are moving from the studio and onto a stage. For months we have been practicing in the same space, and we have gotten used to the area around us, the distance between things, and the positioning of the other dancers as well as the walls etc. Then, moving onto a stage, everything changes and we only have a week or so to get accustomed. Some of the places I've enjoyed dancing in the most are the places where studios and stages and similar, and it is a smooth transition going from one to the other. It means we can focus more on the choreography, synchronisation and movements, rather than having to get used to the space.
Reflection/Considerations
For my public building for creatives I want to design a dance school that specifically focuses on contemporary dance, as personally, I think this is a beautiful way to express yourself and one's emotions through movement of the body. Typically, people tend to think that dance school and studios are just for ballet and more traditional/classic dance styles. After researching, I have also noticed that contemporary dance is not represented enough in Birmingham, and it is not something that a lot of people have access to because of the limited dance studios.
I have contacted two different contemporary dance studios in Birmingham to be my potential client (ACE Dance & Music and DanceXchange) but I have yet to hear from them.
After talking to a friend that is a professional dancer, I have gained some insight in what the daily lifestyle of a dancer is, what spaces they see as essential, and also things that they think should be changed in dance studios.
I also researched several different successful contemporary dancers and some of their works and the meaning of them. I have also watched 3 documentaries from the MOVE series on Netflix, that follow choreographers Ohad Naharin, Israel Galvan and Akram Khan. Watching these gave me a better understanding of the different types of contemporary dance and the different views that they dancers/choreographers have on the topic. I have selected some of the photos taken from the different performances that especially focus on the human body, anatomy and form, and I want to take some inspiration from these when designing my building.
Finally, I was especially inspired by Ohad Naharin and the concept of "Gaga" that he has invented. Gaga is a movement language that focuses on enabling people to connect to their body, imagination, emotion and movement. Participants (that can be dancers or non-experienced people) are guided by instructions that increase awareness and sensation of the body. Naharin also focuses on involvement and not being stopped by perceptions and opinions around you. Therefore, there are no windows or mirror in the Gaga Dance studios, so that people are not focused on how they look, but instead connecting with their body. I would like to incorporate this idea into the layout of my design, potentially by making an underground dance space, or another closed off space in the building.
I have contacted two different contemporary dance studios in Birmingham to be my potential client (ACE Dance & Music and DanceXchange) but I have yet to hear from them.
After talking to a friend that is a professional dancer, I have gained some insight in what the daily lifestyle of a dancer is, what spaces they see as essential, and also things that they think should be changed in dance studios.
I also researched several different successful contemporary dancers and some of their works and the meaning of them. I have also watched 3 documentaries from the MOVE series on Netflix, that follow choreographers Ohad Naharin, Israel Galvan and Akram Khan. Watching these gave me a better understanding of the different types of contemporary dance and the different views that they dancers/choreographers have on the topic. I have selected some of the photos taken from the different performances that especially focus on the human body, anatomy and form, and I want to take some inspiration from these when designing my building.
Finally, I was especially inspired by Ohad Naharin and the concept of "Gaga" that he has invented. Gaga is a movement language that focuses on enabling people to connect to their body, imagination, emotion and movement. Participants (that can be dancers or non-experienced people) are guided by instructions that increase awareness and sensation of the body. Naharin also focuses on involvement and not being stopped by perceptions and opinions around you. Therefore, there are no windows or mirror in the Gaga Dance studios, so that people are not focused on how they look, but instead connecting with their body. I would like to incorporate this idea into the layout of my design, potentially by making an underground dance space, or another closed off space in the building.