Caroline Bridges Director/Choreographer of Brazen Dance Theatre, names the five most inspirational figures in her professional life.
Nick Matthews
Nick is an old friend of mine from my high school days in Australia. At the age of sixteen I was absolutely certain that I wanted to have a career as a professional dancer. Nick at that stage was not completely sure as to which way his life was headed, but is now a successful Director of Photography for feature films both in Australia and elsewhere. His complete dedication to his vocation is both inspirational and uplifting, and his hard work and tenacity has driven him to become highly respected in his field and to win many prizes for his cinematography. Whenever I doubt myself, he is the person who instils confidence in me and inspires me to attempt things I would otherwise never have thought I could do.
Gwen van Spijk
Gwen is producer of CUE productions and is a well-known and respected promoter of dance and theatre companies in the UK. Gwen was a mentor for Brazen Dance Theatre through The Place?s Artists? Self-Management Scheme when we were embarking on our first UK tour. Her advice helped me throughout the many facets of the tour, from writing funding applications and approaching theatres, to marketing and promoting the shows. Without that advice, I never would have thought that I could single-handedly organise a twenty-show tour for the company.
Kevin Finnan
Kevin is Artistic Director of Motionhouse Dance Theatre, the company for which I worked as a professional dancer for seven years. He taught me an incredible amount about choreographing dance within the context of dance theatre, about the importance of intention within a piece in relation to movement, as well as training me in the art of contact duet work. He encouraged me to develop and choreograph pieces for Brazen Dance Theatre and was always supportive of the company, giving advice and recommending us for various theatres. For these reasons I am eternally grateful to him.
Meryl Tankard
Meryl was Artistic Director of Meryl Tankard?s Australian Dance Theatre throughout my vocational University degree in Australia. Her pieces combined visceral visual stage elements that enhanced the narrative portrayed by the dancers. I was lucky enough to be given a scholarship to go on placement with the company in my final year, and I learnt a lot about her methodology. From this experience I decided that I wanted to work professionally in dance theatre.
Wendy Houstoun
I think that Wendy is one of the most incredible women I have ever met. I was lucky to work with her in my second year at University on a dance film that she created for six performers. It was great to be able to spend an intensive period of time creating a piece of work directed by a woman who was already a guru in the eyes of most dance students! It was she who inspired me to direct and choreograph my own dance films, and now I also shoot and edit projects as well. My interest in this field came as a direct result of working with Wendy.