What The Press Says |
|
Dancing Undressed
by Jenn Sharp
Bridges - February 15, 2012
Dance and movement are evolving, radically changing the way people feel about their bodies. In Saskatoon, instructors are stepping up with new ways for adults to express themselves through dance. Aileen Hayden's Big Fat Ass Dance Class encourages spontaneous movement from her female students. Mischa Davison and her co-ed Dance Church congregation move their bodies to world music, fusion and techno. And Jackie Latendresse, founder of Free Flow Dance Centre, is reinventing burlesque for a new generation of men and women.
It's not about taking your clothes off, says Latendresse. Anyone can do that. In fact, she finds stripping boring and uninspiring. Women, she says, are capable of much more.
Five years ago, Latendresse started Rosebud Burlesque as a side project, a neo feminist burlesque club where women (and men) of all shapes and sizes are allowed to express themselves not only through dance but with political and social satire.
"We try to celebrate the awesomeness of humanity," she says. "The beauty and the fun, the humour and the intelligence. The good, the bad, the ugly - we love it all and we showcase it and put it into a light where everyone can relate."
Some spectators complain when they don't see idealized versions of female perfection, but Latendresse can only laugh at that reaction.
"As a teacher, I always ask my students: 'What's your point? Why are you doing this?' There's enough fluff out there in the world. We always joke you need at least one degree to get into the Rosebuds because we have a lot of really clever, smart, intelligent ladies (and gentlemen) working with our club."
Latendresse met one of those students, Kelly Van Damme, while they were both teaching portions of a U of S fine arts program. Van Damme auditioned for Free Flow years ago and has been a Rosebud since the club's start. She says she's grown as a dancer, thanks to Latendresse's choreography skills and focus on personal development. She loves burlesque because it's a challenge.
"To find an angle at an issue that can challenge your audience but not threaten them and to combine humour and satire," she says.
Latendresse offers six-week burlesque sessions that teach students everything from character work and acting skills to old-school moves like the bump 'n' grind and the shimmy. Students perform for one another in class and once they graduate their first set of lessons, become an official Rosebud. They are then welcome to take more classes and perform publicly with the club. A professional choreographer, Latendresse helps her Rosebuds develop a character, routine and a signature move. Many of her students take Rosebud classes to build body image confidence.
"When I see the students in class one and I compare them to their graduation class, they're completely different people. It's almost unrecognizable the amount of confidence and change," she says.
Women aren't the only ones who suffer from negative body image. Men also have confidence issues but are less likely to seek out ways to overcome them. Her boylesque classes, aimed strictly at men, help students incorporate comedy into their routines. She says men are often attractive in different ways than women.
"Men seem to be able to just let (their issues) go a little easier. They're probably more nervous about dance steps than they are about having their shirt off," she says.
The Rosebuds are an inclusive group. They welcome all skill levels, all ages (over 19) and people of all sexual and gender orientations. Latendresse explains that dance has always been an open and accepting field. She also points to the similarities between burlesque dancers and drag queens, saying they shop at the same stores and share the same glamorous accessories.
"We found there's a real connection ... we totally support each other's shows because it's about performance, character, persona and stage presence -- all those things are similar."
In addition to performing throughout the year at the Free Flow Dance Centre and The Refinery, the Rosebuds are active in the community. The club was recently recognized at the Avenue Community Centre Gala and received an award for their work in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Saskatoon.
Latendresse, who moved to Saskatoon from her home province of Ontario 10 years ago, says it was a struggle to start a professional dance scene here for adults, something she has done with Free Flow. She works out of a converted former Ukrainian Orthodox church in Caswell Hill, which she has turned into a bright and spacious dance studio. She uses the space for classes and performances and rents it out to other adult dance clubs. She transformed the church basement into her living space and dressing room. Colour coordinated rows of brilliant costumes line a large dressing room. Sparkling feathered hair clips surround her mirror. Latendresse is dressed casually, sans makeup, as she lounges on her couch with her two cats, Gypsy Rose Lee and Minsky.
She's a self-professed dance history nerd and a dance library in her home confirms it.
"A dancer's training is never done," she says as she describes a recent two-month trip to Toronto and Montreal.
She spent the time furthering her education and being inspired by shows and partaking in workshops and classes. She began choreographing dances on her front porch at the age of seven, convincing neighbourhood kids to join in. In 1995, she formed Free Flow, a modern and contemporary dance company that often works in multidisciplinary and collaborative projects. She focuses on adult performances and adult events because she feels there aren't as many opportunities for adult dancers as there are for children in Saskatoon.
Free Flow does a variety of fundraising events throughout the year, and like the Rosebuds, is also actively involved in the community. They conduct regular dance workshops with senior citizen's homes and different community groups.
"The seniors' ones rock. We always create a dance they'll be into -- this year we did the Charleston. We love teaching those workshops. It's so fulfilling. It's an amazing feeling," she says.
Although it's been a struggle to get people out to her professional dance shows, Latendresse says the Rosebud club is helping to spread the word about Free Flow.
"Saskatoon audiences are very dedicated once they discover you. I think people here do want to be challenged with new and innovative work. They do want to be entertained and coaxed out of their homes, even in the winter.
"There's been a few times when I've considered leaving (Saskatoon) but something positive has always happened to keep me here, so I keep staying. We've started so many amazing things in the city that we just want to keep going," she says.
One of those amazing things is the Dr. Sketchy anti-art shows, a life drawing class that promises to be anything but silent and subdued. Participants bring their sketching supplies and Latendresse provides burlesque models, a musical setlist fitting a theme with contests, prizes and performances
Another is the Great Mystery, a collaborative project Latendresse conceived with interdisciplinary artist Adrian Stimson. The Great Mystery combined the work of live musicians, a DJ, 10 dancers, and a costume designer, and featured everything from elaborate light shows to interpretive dance. It was one of the biggest projects Free Flow has ever done. The project aimed to bring a small taste of the Burning Man festival, held each year in Nevada's Black Rock Desert, to people who've never been.
Stimson says Latendresse's prolific body of work in the city and beyond, exhausts him. Given their limited budget for the Great Mystery, he says her skills were precious.
"She's very well organized and knows how to keep ideas and people flowing."
Click to read more. |
|
