We welcome you to tune in and listen to artists from our film curation this year, talk about their works and current creative practice with festival director Vanessa Maria Mirza.
Vanessa says about this series-
“This was a first for Dance Bridges and certainly something I hadn’t imagined doing. But early on in the pandemic, when we were switching plans, we thought instead of zoom calls which could be visually fatiguing, a podcast with an artist would be a great way for audiences to tune in and discover more about their work. This was also such a beautiful experience for me to connect and reconnect with some amazing people, and really take the time to be quiet and relaxed and talk about art and life in a way we don’t always have the luxury to do.
I want to especially thank the artists working with my sometimes tight schedule, and their own schedules. It was tricky to coordinate between London where I was, India where our technician Rayan was and wherever they were at. at that time in the world. Special thanks also to my Ferry House flatmates Artur and Ana-Maria who didn’t mind if I was recording very early in the morning or late at night and ensured a quiet environment for a smooth take.
I’m new to hosting a podcast series, and so you might not find me the most experienced host, but you will most certainly hear some genuine, honest conversations, excitement and empathy, and some beautiful moments of dialogue where we understand more about each artist and the world they create in and how they continue inspite of challenging times.
Recorded between March to July 2022, thank you Travis, Hygin, Yoram, Eric, I-fen, Martin, Priyabrat, Hsiao-Tze, Laura and Bea for what will always be some very treasured moments. To all our listeners, we hope as you partake in this for a few minutes or for a full conversation, that you are inspired, and feel as if you were at the same coffee table, sharing in our thoughts and ideas. Leave us a comment, share this with your friends and stay creative!”
Here are the first 4 podcasts that you can explore! Head over to soundcloud to explore the rest of the series. If you would like to request a transcript for a particular podcast, write to us at dancebridgesfestival@gmail.com.
YORAM KARMI
Born in Israel, Yoram Karmi holds a B.A. in dance from the Kibbuzim College of Education, as well as studied psychology and education at Tel-Aviv University. He later took advanced studies at the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance in London Yoram is the former soloist of the Kol Demama Dance Company and a freelance dancer and Choreographer in various projects in Israel as well as abroad. He founded Fresco Dance Company in 2002 and actively creates for the company on a regular basis since that time. Karmi’s style is unique and incorporates a high level of technique and theatrical elements. Yoram is being commissioned to create new choreographic works for festivals and institutions around the world, such as The Jerusalem Ballet, The Macao Dance Festival, The Suzanne Dellal Center, The Israel Opera, KSU Dance Company in the USA, Chengdu Contemporary Dance Company in China and more. He was selected as artistic director for the “Young Artists Create” Project in Israel between 2007 and 2017, as well as for the renowned “Curtain Up” Festival 2012 / 2013 In 2012 he received the Rozenblum Prize for Dance and Excellence in Art, among other prizes he was awarded during the years.
ERIC OBERDOFF
Dancer, choreographer, film and opera director, Éric Oberdorff discovered movement through martial arts practice. After his dance studies, he travelled around the world for sixteen years as dancer
performer. He founded in 2002 the Compagnie Humaine with which he created interdisciplinary projects including choreography, music, text, visual arts installation. He accompanies his creation work by multiple actions towards the public, with particular attention to the youngest and to people in precarious social situation. In 2010, he co-founded European cooperation network ’Studiotrade’. Since 2017, he is also choreographer and stage director for the Ensemble N.E.S.E.V.E.N. (Germany). Since 2021, Éric is associate artist to Scène 55 Theatre, Mougins, France. Regularly invited to create choreographies and staging for renowned organizations inn France and abroad, his works received numerous international awards.
LAURA KENYON
Originally from France, Laura studied dance at Kingston University and Jasmin Vardimon 2. Alongside performing professionally for 7 years, she has taught groups of all ages, in the UK and abroad (India, Bali, Vietnam, Spain, France and New Caledonia). Laura was recently in Re:Birth by Van Huynh Co, Glam by Etta Ermini Dance Theatre and Van Huynh Co, Out of the Deep Blue by Autin Dance Theatre and WomanEwer that she created and directed. She is also a qualified yoga instructor. Themes surrounding womanhood and gender inequality are becoming more and more apparent in Laura‘s work, with a focus on celebrating women’s beauty and strength, advocating for women to have their own voice in society.
MARTIN PILIPONSKY BRAIER
Architect, dancer and teacher of improvisation. He has studied independently between USA, Europe and Argentina. From 2004 until 2012 he lived in BCN, Spain. Since 2012 its base is in Buenos Aires. In the last decade he has toured to South America, NORTH and CENTER, a large part of Europe, Africa and Asia, teaching improvisation and dancing in various festivals and international stages. He has received the TANZ ATELIER and DANCEWEB scholarships in Austria. The support of the metropolitan funds of arts and sciences (2013, 2015, 2017 and 2020) and the subsidy of IBERESCENA (2014) and PRODANZA (2016) for the realization of independent projects. Currently collaborates artistically with the English teacher and dancer Kirstie Simson and the North American dancer Elia Mark. He has created his own works between solitaires and groups works. Sutil (ARG) the feeling of the atmosphere (CHINA) and From Togetherness (INDIA) are his latest works.
Blending his background in architectures and dance, Martin teaches teaching how the possibilities of spaces in which we live can transform dance and life itself. Sustained by a practice in deep listening to oneself and the environment that contains us, he shares his practice through teaching and performance to students and audiences all over the world.