JAMES STRECKER: Please tell us about one or more projects that you have been working on or have recently completed. Why exactly do they matter to you and why should they matter to us?
ANNE PLAMONDON: Last fall, I choreographed on the production Vanishing Mélodies of BJM. A dance and theater show with the music of Patrick Watson. I also worked with the students of Arts Umbrella school in Vancouver last January. Both of these projects give me the opportunity to develop my practice and my work, as well as encouraging the transmission of our discipline to the next generation.
JS: What might others not understand or appreciate in the work you produce or do?
AP: This is an interesting question. I never think about that.
When I make work, I don’t worry about what others will not appreciate. I prefer to focus on the things that they might appreciate or relate to, and find a compelling way to share it through dance. I focus on things that matter to me, such as creating movement that is interesting, intriguing or mysterious. I also wish to address issues that touch me personally, hoping it reaches other people’s hearts as well.
I also take the creative process very seriously. I believe in the power of getting together to make something. And how rich the energy of a group of dancers and collaborators can be.
I am fully aware that my work might not please everyone, and I admit, it is not always easy to accept. But I know that making stuff is partly my doing, my conscious decisions, my abilities etc…And another part is more mysterious and holistic somehow.
There is a pretty big part of intuition in my process.
JS: What are the most important parts of yourself that you put into your work?
AP: I would say…my dance background, my influences, are important parts of myself that I put into my work. Every day, I come with everything I got. All my abilities, knowledge and my experiences as a performance for 25 years. All the people I learned from too.
My work is defined by my history as a dancer and as a person. I bring all of that into the studio. Even my fears and doubts. And my bravery. At least, that’s what I try to do every day.
JS: What are your biggest challenges as a creative person?
AP: The challenges are also what makes my job a very exciting one. It is not a routine. My agenda varies constantly, which makes it a bit complicated when you have a family.
I can never rely on my past successes. I am an endless student, and I must continue to be curious about everything in life.
There is also a certain amount of uncertainty that comes with creation, that I have to be ok with. Every creation has a different process. I have to stay open and flexible, in order to find its hidden treasures.
JS: Imagine that you are meeting two or three people, living or dead, whom you admire in your form of artistic expression. What would you say to them and what would they say to you?
AP: I’ve been very fortunate to learn from brilliant artists in my career. Some I had the chance to say thank you. Others not. Some, I was too young to recognize the chance I had to learn from them.
So, I would say thank you.
And I hope they would say “I always believed in you”.
The ones I admire from a distance but never had the chance to meet. Uhm… I guess I would engage in a conversation about art and its role in the world.
JS: Please describe at least one major turning point in your life that helped to make you who you are as a creative artist.
AP: There’s been a few turning points, but becoming a mother was a major pivotal event. In all the most positive ways.
My daughter brought a lot of meaning and balance to my life. Dancing and creating is now more of a playground for curiosity, self-accomplishment and giving back.
JS: What are the hardest things for an outsider to understand about your life as a person in the arts?
AP: This one is hard to respond to because I cannot speak for others. But I can speak from experience. The kind of misunderstanding I witness sometimes, is the fact that what I dois actually a real job. It is hard to believe, but there is still a misunderstanding about that. Sometimes, people don’t understand the amount of commitment required to develop and thrive as a dance artist.
JS: Let’s talk about the state of the arts in today’s society, including the forms in which you work. What specifically gives you hope and what specifically do you find depressing?
AP: I have a lot of faith in the dance evolution and its capacity to engage an audience, a reflection, and provoke change. Movement is a universal language that brings people together, in thoughts and emotions. In this time where we need connection more than ever, I believe dance can help healing lots of our traumas.
