Interview with Alexandra Beller

Before the FTC season had even begun, in the middle of November, Alexandra Beller began her week long residency here at the University of Michigan. Alexandra collaborated with company members CJ Burroughs, Lena Oren, Meri Bobber, KT Maviglia, Penelope Koulos, Ciara Hurst, and Maeve McEwen to build a piece from scratch. In fact, the very first day that the dancers began working with Alexandra she had them stand in a box around CJ Burroughs and watch while she improvised. The dancers had the task to take phrases they remembered from CJ's improvisation and piece them together to make new phrases. The dancers then taught one other dancer the phrase that they had created and this is how the dance was pieced together. It was a very new and collaborative way of creating a piece for most of the company members. Lena Oren interviewed her, take a look! 

Q: What is the name of the piece?

Alexandra Beller

A: Keeping Things Whole

Q: Who is the composer of music? 

A: Les Yeux Noirs and Meredith Monk

Q: How was the dance created? 

A: Structured improvisations leading to captured bits of relationship which were then set and used to manifest a series of cause and effect structures.

Q: What is it like to have your own company? 

A: It's stressful and exciting!
 
Q: Any advice for budding choreographers and dancers? 

A: Don't compare yourself to anyone else, and make sure that you are being treated with respect and compassion, both by your colleagues and directors, and by yourself...