The JOY of Collaboration
By Boo Wong
A recurring observation of the career of Artistic Director and Choreographer Stephen Mills is his respect for the other artists involved in his productions, and his penchant for collaboration. He’s often described as an artist who believes in other artists, with a desire to share the spotlight and uplift fellow creatives; a pattern reflected over his years as a nationally recognized dance maker.
With JOY / 3 Happy Dances by Stephen Mills, this notion is ever-present. Mills brings three world premiere contemporary dance works to the stage, with live music by Austin Chamber Music Center (ACMC), featuring on-stage accompaniment by ACMC Artistic Director Dr. Michelle Schumann, and Austin Classical Guitar, featuring the Austin Guitar Quartet with special guest Jeremy Waldrip.
“As a choreographer, I’m very interested in bringing other people’s ideas into my practice.” Mills says of his collaborative nature, “The obvious [collaboration] is working with dancers. Something less obvious might be working with a composer or musical group.” Mills previously collaborated with Dr. Schumann on a number of projects, but this is his first time working with Austin Classical Guitar; an exciting new partnership.
The role of music in dance performance becomes more than that of a backing track, with the dancers and musicians working together to develop a beautiful, collaborative finished product. Mills says, “The musicians aren’t just there to provide music for the dancing. We want it to be an integrated part of the overall experience.”
Ballet Austin enjoys a long, collaborative relationship with the Austin Symphony Orchestra, led by Maestro Peter Bay who, Mills says, “brings everyone together, setting the tempo for each piece.” Mills continues, In the musical collaboration for Joy, there will be no conductor, so the musicians feed on each other’s energy.” This lends itself to a spontaneous experience, which makes live dance and music enthralling for the audience, but can also become an in-the-moment challenge as the dancers typically rehearse for weeks at a particular speed. “It’s a live experience, so it will always be different, no matter what.” Mills reflects.
Spontaneity is what makes this type of collaboration so special. It holds the potential to produce work that creates a spark in the artists, translates to the audience, and hopefully results in art that stays with you. It’s live, and it is happening in front of you in the moment. While things may go exquisitely right or bit off center, this is what makes live performance exhilarating for audiences.
There is nothing quite like the experience shared between the artists, musicians and you, the audience. Once the house lights go down, the curtain goes up, and the artists take the stage…the collaboration unfolds.
Welcome home to live performance!
