Performing Lines WA

Pictured: Aimee Smith Photo: Traianos Pakioufakis

Perth choreographer and dancer Aimee Smith is currently gearing up to present her first full length solo work Breakings next month at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts Performance Space. Working with Sound Designer Ben Taaffe, Lighting Designer Mike Nanning, Audio Visual Artist Jerrem Lynch, Set and Costume Designer Fiona Bruce, Set Designer Bryan Woltjen and with outside eye of LINK Dance Company Artistic Director Michael Whaites, Aimee’s Breakings gets to the bottom of how the media influences our perception of the world.

You recently bumped into PICA for your final rehearsal stages, how are you feeling about getting the show up and running for opening night on April 8th?

Well its crunch time right now. Less than 2 weeks from Opening Night always means long hours and hard work mixed with a burst of adrenaline and excitement at seeing all the elements finally come together. It has been so wonderful to be able to spend some time in the performance space prior to production week, where we can still be creative and adaptable to the space. It’s not very often you get this time in a venue. It’s a real luxury.

Why did you choose to both choreograph and perform in Breakings?

There’s something unique about a self devised solo that you just can’t re-create in an outside choreographed work. Not necessarily better, but just different. In some ways I think it lends itself to be more intimate. Also, the themes of the work grew out of a personal reaction to living in an increasingly mediated world. As I started to realise that I was not alone in these feelings I decided to make this work, but it made sense to me to base it in a personal framework.

How do you access news about the world?

Just like everyone else – through the multitude of globules and streams that get thrown at me – internet, television and occasionally, very occasionally, newspaper. I guess what I seek most is balance. I want to feel like I’m getting told all sides of the story so I can make my own judgments about things, so this leads me to the internet a lot. I think the internet is an amazing tool, that yes, can be overwhelming, but is also been so revolutionary and empowering in how it has re-opened and democratised news and information.

Do you dance alone when you are at home?

Ha! Actually I dance at home all the time. My kitchen floor is well worn. I always have. My brother will tell you that his friends knew me as ‘the dancing sister’ as I spent entire summers dancing on my back lawn. So yeah, I dance at home…still….as a 27 year old(!)… though not necessarily alone.

Who influenced you to become a choreographer?

I think the question for me really is ‘what’ not ‘who’. As a child I loved to dance and I loved the magic of the theatre and the emotional transformations, and space for imagination that the theatre offered. As an adult I am interested in using arts as a way of sense-making, of sharing stories and ideas as a society, in order to find our way through this world as best we can. I think the body is a storehouse of extremely valuable information and a carrier of very rich and grounded wisdom. This inspires me daily.

If you could change just one thing about your industry with the wave of a magic wand, what would it be?

I would like the world to realise how magical and powerful art can be to human wellbeing and social happiness. I would like Australians to dare to put down their footballs occasionally, and to pick up a paintbrush or a guitar or a go to a dance class instead. I think this is the answer for our industry!

Breakings
PICA, Perth Cultural Centre, James Street
8 – 11 April
www.pica.org.au
Tickets