Photo: Ed Flores
Hometown: Yuma, Arizona
Current city: Tempe, Arizona
Age: 42
College and degree: University of Utah … Ballet BFA + Psychology BS
Graduate school and degree: University of Utah … Modern Dance MFA … 25 yrs old when I graduated
Website: www.conderdance.com
How you pay the bills: Faculty Associate, Arizona State University; Adjunct Faculty, Scottsdale Community College; Breaking Ground Festival Organizer
All of the dance hats you wear: Dancer, choreographer, teacher, director, producer, grant-writing, PR.
Non-dance work you do: MOTHER!
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Describe your dance life ….
The first five years after college: Came back home to Arizona and took any dance job I could find … elementary school dance teacher, baby ballet, studio technique. Also looked for anything happening professionally in the Phoenix area and put myself forward to do it. After the first two years, I felt like I could be more selective … I found the places that I really enjoyed working and pursued those avenues. Got hired by Scottsdale College, ASU and began dancing for Keith Johnson/Dancers. I also enjoyed getting hired for teaching/choreographic residencies at different programs such as: Brigham Young University, UC Santa Barbara, University of Texas - PamAmerican. In the 5th year out of school, I started my company CONDER/dance. That was also the year I had my first child.
Ten years after college: That was about 5 years ago … I had begun the Breaking Ground Festival at Tempe Center for the Arts. CONDER/dance was at its most intense point … 10 paid dancers and a regular season with some touring. We were performing my work as well as commissioning choreographers from around the country.
Now: Breaking Ground has now taken on a much larger role. I took a step back from the company model … way too much to maintain financially and energetically. I embarked on a series of solo projects … over the last 4 years I have commissioned 4 choreographers to create solo works for me. Ashleigh Leite, Keith Johnson, Eric Handman and Nadar Rosano. I work on these on my own time and perform them in Arizona venues as well as festivals in New York. Teaching is just right … I love the program at SCC, and Contemporary Ballet at ASU is really interesting to investigate and develop.
Photo: Ed Flores
Describe a typical dance week for you and all of the hats you wear (dancer, choreographer, administrator, etc):
I teach Contemporary Ballet at ASU on Monday/Wednesday/Friday mornings. I then rush off to the Scottsdale Community College Campus (20 min away) to teach Modern Technique … also Monday/Wednesday/Friday. Mondays I stay at SCC until 4:00p to choreograph and act as rehearsal director for the SCC performing ensemble. Tuesday is when I rehearse with my own company, CONDER/dance. We meet for three hours at a warehouse studio space in downtown Phoenix. Thursday I use as a day to take class at Ballet Arizona and get on top of all the administration work that goes along with running a company and producing a dance festival. Nights (after the kids are in bed) are also used for admin work and creative work … working out choreographic ideas and planning classes.
How did you learn the skills to become an arts administrator?
I learned out of necessity. There is never enough money to pay someone to write the grants, promote your event, develop an audience, coordinate all of the moving parts. I was given a lot of these responsibilities at Scottsdale Community College when I first moved to the Phoenix area. It was basically sink or swim since I pretty much was ignorant of this side of dance when I was in college … just focused on “my art." But I found the more I dove into what it took to make dance visible in my community, the more I enjoyed the process.
How do you find dancers? What do you look for in a dancer?
I find dancers all over the place … rarely from auditions. Mostly it is people that I have known for a long time … I know I can trust them to deliver and have fun during the process. I usually only use people who have taken class from me for about 6 months … I can get a sense of their physicality and sense of commitment.
I like dancers that have a strong technical base and are creatively curious. I love strong, powerful movers that are ready to take chances. I call on the dancers to collaborate in the process so they need to have a creative voice. I don't tolerate drama. I expect them to come in prepared and conditioned. Nice people that like to laugh but are ready to work.
Three pieces of advice for aspiring choreographers:
1) Process not Product.
2) Don't have a photo shoot before you have any solid work to back you up.
3) Go out and see EVERYTHING you can before you start putting your own stuff out there.
Photo: Carlos Velarde
What is the Breaking Ground Festival about?
Breaking Ground is an annual festival that celebrates innovation in contemporary dance and film. It is in its ninth year … we put out an open call to choreographers and dance filmmakers everywhere. It has gotten bigger and more exciting every year … it is really an honor to host such amazing choreographers and dancers each year. We've had artists such as Maria Gillespie, Colleen Thomas, Nadar Rosano from Israel, Chad Michael Hall, Stephanie Nugent, Joshua L. Peugh, Shaun Boyle, Eric Handman … so many great choreographers. There are also two days of master classes taught by visiting artists in association with the festival. It now is an event that is anticipated by the artistic community here in Phoenix and creates a great venue to put contemporary dance front and center for a broad audience.
On balancing dancing and family life:
What a challenge. I have three children and a very loving husband. Each year, I have to re-evaluate what I am committing to and make sure it makes sense with the family. If things are rough at home, it is totally not worth it to me to push harder on the dance end of things. I had my first child at 30 and found it incredibly difficult to make the shift from devoting almost all my time to dance to full-time mom. I slowly got better at getting very efficient with free time … during naps I would give myself a ballet barre in my kitchen; I would bring the baby the gym and choreograph in the racquetball courts; I don't mess around when I have even 20 minutes to do some work; I get direct with what I need from other people. It is still a constant negotiation. It was my choice to have three children. I knew it would impact my career as a dancer and artist. But I wouldn't trade the experiences of motherhood for anything that dance could have provided.
Can you talk a little about the dance scene in Phoenix?
Having been here for 16 years now, I have seen a lot of changes … and a lot has stayed the same. Even though Metro Phoenix is the sixth largest city in the US, funding for the arts is dismal. It is hard to make a living here as an artist. For the most part, Phoenix is conservative and sports-crazed. HOWEVER, there are some very determined artists who love Phoenix and are committed to creating a community that supports each other and support a vibrant arts scene. I have found it relatively easy to find affordable performance and rehearsal spaces … I have gotten many more opportunities to produce my work here than I would have in New York or San Francisco. I have found that there is an audience who is hungry for quality dance work … they are interested, informed and excited about work that has substance. I am committed to doing what I can to contribute to this community and make it a place where I am proud to live and create.
Wishes and dreams for the future:
Would love to go to Israel to study Gaga intensively. I will go one day … might be when I'm 60 and my kids are finally out of the house. Would love to see more public funding for the arts and dance specifically.
Final advice for young dancers:
GO FOR IT! Don't be afraid to work hard. Enjoy the process.
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Lovely!!! Congratulations, Carley. it has always been clear that you are special, so glad that you are doing what it takes to create your career!
Posted by: Phyllis Haskell Tims | 05/01/2015 at 08:29 PM
Carley, A powerful and comprehensive look at your life as dancer/mother/producer. Keep it up and keep giving to this very demanding art form, Phoenix needs your energies and talent.
Posted by: Frances Cohen | 05/02/2015 at 01:31 PM