Danielle Gardner and Impact Dance Productions are pleased to share a blog post by the outstanding dancer and choreographer Caitlin Griffin. We have had the pleasure of working alongside Caitlin and can boast that she is a true artist at heart that dances with passion that could warm a room and has the drive to get up and jump over some of life’s biggest hurdles.
“My Dance Journey to Israel”
By: Caitlin Griffin
Following a difficult year spent grant writing, crowd-funding and recovering from a serious injury, I find myself on the other side of the world, in the midst of one of the most intensive periods of personal and artistic development I have experienced. It is day 61 here in Kibbutz Ga’aton, with the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company’s Dance Journey program and it has been worth every second of the uphill climb it was to get here.
The Dance Journey program is undeniably unique. As one of 25 dancers from around the world who gather and live on the Kibbutz, we study intensely for 5 months under the direction of some of the leading voices in contemporary dance. We also have full access to every practical resource required for dance creation and production and the support of numerous accomplished artists.
Thanks to the support of the BC Arts Council and a dedicated community of supporters I am not only here, but well into the creation process of a new work. My most ambitious work to date, the piece in it’s infancy has already evolved through several stages of depth and clarity; simply because of my surroundings. While living on this serene Kibbutz, surrounded by fruit trees, cacti and diverse wildlife, it has become easy to clear my mind of daily distractions and to explore ideas with curiosity and intensity.
With over three months left, I have been collecting many things from this experience I will try and bring to my artistic development when I return home. I anticipate a difficult adjustment period without the family of artists and host of resources I am privileged to have here, but I will be excited to find my footing in Canada again. My renewed energy will be spent dancing and creating with a whole new understanding of my creative potential and with a deep sense of gratitude for the journey.
Blog made possible by Caitlin Griffin, daniellelgardner.com & Impact Dance Productions
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