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David Waring takes a break from Trinity Laban’s Transitions Dance Company to look back at the people who have inspired him. 

Photo of David Waring dancing
Photo: 
Chris Nash

 

Trisha Brown

Watching work choreographed by Trisha Brown opened my eyes to both the amazing complexity and beautiful simplicity of movement and composition. Her work never fails to surprise and inspire me, and her dancers are always such exquisite movers. The sophistication of the work and the dancers’ application to it is so clear – the embodiment of the ideas, the elegant, yet dynamic and intelligently energised and nuanced way of moving suggests something profound to me.

Trisha works on three-year cycles, each focused on a particular artistic interest and ‘problem’ (to ‘solve’). I find this a fascinating way to create and address one’s body of work and creative output. It partly inspired my own hustler series of works, made and performed by me.

Merce Cunningham

Merce’s philosophy for making dance inspired me. Even in his extremely pure form of abstract dance, by the end of an evening of his work I felt I knew the dancers. Seeing Merce’s work, I often gasped out loud and felt warm for the humanity presented. Merce’s use of space, chance and the way he worked with composers and designers to collaborate on making work was a real eye-opener to me (see Rei Kawakubo below and the wonderful piece where the dancers were wearing lumps and bumps in their costumes that completely distorted their bodies!).

Photo of David Waring dancing

Mary Austin

Mary was the director of the youth theatre I was a member of before I decided on my path. She showed me that drive, passion and self-belief in all areas of life are the way forward. Her love of performance in all its guises, her belief in humankind and her unstoppable desire to support people in their growth and personal development make me want to be the best teacher, performer, maker, friend and person I could ever be.

Being involved in musicals and theatre productions at the youth theatre allowed me to find myself. I realised that dancing felt more ‘whole’ and holistic than acting and my introduction to contemporary dance started there, as the choreographer for the musicals was a trained contemporary dancer. That choreographer responded to my interest, in working with her and dancing in general, by suggesting I train at The Laban Centre for Movement and Dance. I have never looked back!

Fin Walker

An amazing performer, artist, maker and friend, Fin is inspiring for her lack of compromise as an artist. Her choreography has an emotional truth and beauty that completely moves me to my core. She is so determined to honour her artistic voice and create honest and communicative work that she never stops to question her self-belief. Fin forges on, demonstrating a need to articulate herself in the way that makes total sense to her.

I first met Fin when we were members of the Extemporary Dance Theatre company, directed by another amazing artist, Emilyn Claid. There was a crossover in rep in Extemporary at the time, which meant we didn’t perform together in the company work, so we only worked together as dancers in the projects of company members and later in her company work.

Fashion

I have always been interested in fashion. There are far too many designers I like and find interesting and inspiring to mention individuals. I enjoy the creativity and innovation, personal ideas and perspective that I see in people’s work and collections. I also really try to follow and understand the intentions and progressions that creators have and make as they grow their work and craft, especially people like Thom Browne, Miuccia Prada, Rei Kawakubo, Tomas Maier, Rick Owens and Raf Simons for instance.

Creativity is super important to me and I find that this can potentially be presented or represented very clearly with design for clothes and accessories. The work and craftsmanship in couture ateliers blow my mind!

David Waring is Artistic Director of Trinity Laban’s Transitions Dance Company.
www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/transitions-dance-company

Inset photo of David Waring by Chris Nash 
Link to Author(s): 
Photo of David Waring dancing