Dancing through England

By Jill Buettner
The Collegian

Most students who attend London Semester go to get out of Fresno and soak up the cultural experience in a vibrant and eclectic city.

When Taylor Theis went to study in London last spring, she not only took advantage of what the arts festivals and performances had to offer — she herself added to the artistic scene.

A junior, double-majoring in dance and art history, Theis was taken aback by the dance scene in London. “London is such a hub for different types of dance that we are not exposed to here in Fresno, ” she said.

Indeed, born and trained in dance in Visalia, Theis was struck by the contrast from the sleepy dance scene in the Valley. “It’s amazing to actually see the things that you’ve heard about and read about in ‘Dance Magazine’ [a publication on all types of dance].”

After viewing several performances, Taylor was determined that she too would somehow dance in London. She began taking class and auditioning at the prestigious Laban Centre and The Place, studios in which professional dance companies hold auditions and rehearse.

“I was really nervous to see how I would be received by the companies,” she admitted. “However, I didn’t feel the competitive drive that one often feels in the United States. Everyone was so warm and welcoming. Contemporary dance is so relaxed. It’s more about self-discovery than competing with other dancers for attention.”

In the audition process, one particular advertisement caught Theis’ eye. The audition was to hire four dancers for the Brighton Fringe Festival, the second largest arts festival in the world. The festival is held on the coast of the English Channel and it includes arts of all types and mediums: dance, opera music, and many types of visual arts.

Theis decided to go for it. “The train ride was one hour,” she said, describing her nerves and the intensity of the experience. “I said, ‘I am going to do this,' but the whole way there I kept thinking, ‘I could turn back now and no one would know…’”

There were 30 dancers trying out for the four spots but Theis felt good about her audition. Two days later, she got a callback and then found out that she had made it.

The audition itself was an exercise in bravery but the experience of dancing in the piece was worth it.

The piece that Theis performed in was entitled “8 Feet More” and was a long, 30 minute contemporary dance.

The music was the most unusual part about the piece. The composer’s name was Mark Haword.

Known for his work on music for documentaries, he composed the score just for the performance.

Theis described the music as a “sound scape," saying, “He included all different types of sounds, including classic instruments like the piano, but also interesting sounds such as the sound that a spinning bowl makes and African drums.”

The theme of the dance was also rather experimental. It was a conceptual piece, meaning that the dance was based on an overriding idea or theme, which was “the evolution how things continue in a circular motion.”

The dance started with one person spinning onstage and throughout the piece, others joined in. The music and the motion built upon each other until both peaked and the direction of the piece circled back to the simpler mood of the beginning.

“8 Feet More” was very successful and won an award at the Brighton Festival.

This semester, Theis is back in Fresno and is using the inspiration she found dancing in London to further the dance scene in the Valley. At the moment, she is choreographing a piece for University Dance Theatre. The concept of her piece is derived from an art exhibit she saw in London. “I’m deriving some of my imagery from a French puppet company I saw. They used these huge puppets and put music to it. The movements that I use are similarly mechanical.”

Other fellow dancers have noted Theis’ artistry. Jessica Maddox, a fellow member of University Dance Theatre said, “Taylor is a beautiful dancer. Emotion is always important in dance and she uses emotion well in her dancing. And of course she has very good technique.”

As for her future goals, Theis has many directions she wants to take her dancing. “I’d love to audition for companies after graduation. Go perform for as long as possible. Eventually I’d like to become a professor in either dance or art history.”

Her unusual experience dancing abroad has also clarified these goals with a new sense of confidence: “I learned that if you really desire something, it will happen. Take the leap. Dancing in London broadened my horizon and expanded my knowledge. I desire to learn so much more as well.”

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