The dancers speak!

Q & A about dance at the Ford from three staffers in the know

Three members of the Ford staff who have dance backgrounds recently spoke with Director of Communications Linda Chiavaroli.

Ford Theatre Foundation Operations & Development Manager Ragen Carlile (above center) first studied dance in seventh grade in her native North Carolina, where it’s required in public schools, and got a degree in dance in college. After moving to L.A. she danced with modern dance companies including Helios Dance Theater, Collage Dance Theatre and Oni Dance.

Public Events and Operations Assistant Katy King (above right) began studying ballet at age 8 in Santa Rosa, California. Later she studied in France and danced with Inland Pacific Ballet, then did “weird things” like street performing with a nascent ballet company and taking up flamenco and Graham modern dance technique in the same year.

Public Events Coordinator Heather Rigby (above left) was attracted to ballroom dancing watching it on PBS. She started swing dancing in tenth grade. While studying at Harvard University, she joined the competitive ballroom dance team, learning all the international and American standard dances and training with a well known ballroom coach from Hungary. 

What’s special about watching dance at the Ford?

Katy: I love being in the open-air setting. It’s interesting to see how choreographers use the stage because it’s difficult for dance. The companies that really excel are those who use the space in a unique way. Then the dance turns into something that can’t be performed that way somewhere else.

Heather: The naturalness of the setting brings a certain naturalness to what’s on the stage. The lighting feels more expansive. The performance seems more organic than in an indoor setting.

Ragen: When the wind blows I think of breath. There’s a wide open, expansive feeling.

Where do you like to sit?

Ragen:  If it’s not a reserved seat show, I like to move around. I like either the fifth row on the side or the very, very last row. When you sit close you see the performers as people performing. Sometimes certain choreography is better when you are sucked into what the performers are going through. From the back you get a sense of the whole space.

Katy: I sit back a few rows. I like to look at the feet. You can tell everything by the feet. Feel the intensity.

The Ford has large dance series this year, 17 events.
What are you most looking forward to?

Katy: The opening show with LA Contemporary Dance and Body Traffic. I’ve seen a couple of videos of LA Contemporary and they’ve performed on LA County Holiday Celebration. I’ve taken class with Lillian [Barbeito, co-director of Body Traffic]. She’s a beautiful dancer and I’ve heard good things about them. I’m curious about Born Dance Company. I was intrigued by their application to the Ford season, combining traditional Korean dance with modern. It sounds kind of off the wall. I wonder what they’ll do with our space.

Heather: I’m excited to see Kultura (Philippine Folk Arts). My grandfather was Filipino and I don’t know much about my culture on that side. But every time I see a Filipino show I feel a pull, and I think I need to learn more about this, explore my identity. I’ve been to flamenco at the Fountain Theatre so I’m looking forward to their show here. I love how beautiful and intense the performers are.

Ragen: I really like the “Fracture” showcase with three modern dance companies in one evening. Sometimes showcases have too many companies but three is a nice number because you leave wanting more yet each company is on long enough so you can see a piece develop. Viver Brasil is intoxicating with the live drumming. The theatre is packed with people totally into it. The audience energy is totally intoxicating.

What events would you recommend for someone who is new to dance?
 

Ragen: If you have personal ties to a particular culture, like Filipino, Hawaiian, Israeli, I think you’ll be affected by seeing dance from that culture. A company like Catch Me Bird is super accessible. There’s enough spectacularness to it to pull them in, then they would be intrigued by the relationship of the people on stage to draw them in personally.

Heather: I’d start them off with something like Culture Shock to or J.U.i.C.E. Hip hop is a mainstream art form now. It’s a nice way to be introduced to the Ford. There’s so much energy in the house. You leave feeling up and want to come back for more.

What about introducing children to dance?
 

Katy: The interactive J.A.M  Sessions are a fantastic way to get kids into it. My own first dance experience was at a business expo. A ballet studio was giving free lessons and they taught us this little dance. It hooked me for life. I can still remember the combination I learned.

Heather: I definitely echo J.A.M  Sessions. They’re great. It’s something kids can do. It teaches discipline and practice. It’s fun to get to be on the Ford stage. It brings a certain amount of ownership over the stage and over learning an art form.

Ragen: Everyone thought we were taking a a big risk last year when we programmed a modern dance company – Helios – on the Big!World!Fun! family series. That one [family] show it was silent in the audience the entire time. Every child and parent was riveted. The dancers performed with such clear intention that people in the audience wanted to know what they were dancing about. Every movement seemed so purposeful.

Heather: Kids can recognize really high artistic quality, it’s universally recognizable.


Photos by Linda Chiavaroli