A couple of our Choreo & Kickball artists, Tina Carreras and Sara Celaya shared more about their work for our summer event. Choreo & Kickball is part of the City of San Diego Park Social Initiative. Catch their dances at Olive Grove Park on September 17th & 18th (4 and 6 pm)!
Tell us about your history with dance, performance, and art practice. How has it influenced your voice as a choreographer?
Sara: I have been dancing in San Diego since I was 12 years old. Through out my career I have taken classes from various teachers and have used their styles to ultimately influence my style in dance. I feel that the way I choreograph is a blend of dance styles and that I am not tied to only one style in dance. I am influenced by what is currently happening for me emotionally, or what is happening in society.
What inspirations, launching points, or ideas are you working with for your piece for Choreo & Kickball?
Tina: The inspiration for this piece ultimately came from my cell phone. I started to reminisce about my childhood days when there were no devices. I freely connected and gathered with my friends in real time. I wasn’t watching what they were doing through a screen. I wasn’t comparing or judging myself based upon what they were or weren’t doing. On those long days during summer, it was just hours of play and exploration. We never knew who would show up or where we would end up and we would get so dirty. This then brought up the memory of my friend who would get a brand new pair of white shoes before school started. She was always worried about getting them dirty for the first time. I was also inspired by music. There was this song I started listening to that reminded me of a song I knew long ago. This just felt like the perfect opportunity to bring it back out in the open and make a dance to it.
What was your creative process for this piece?
Sara: The piece originally started with another piece of music. The idea of codependent relationships had always been there since the beginning, but as we started to rehearse more I felt that a more upbeat song would connect with the audience better. I love the idea of push and pull, and have used that to create a dance. I’d like to think of this piece as two magnets stuck together by force. Even when they are apart they are still pulled toward one another.
What has been your favorite part of the process?
Tina: Working with Meesh, Luci, and Lisa. I find them very interesting to watch as individuals as well as a collective. I love their spirit and willingness to create alongside me. This whole dance is a collaborative effort.
What are your hopes and dreams for the San Diego dance scene?
Sara: I hope that the San Diego dance scene will become more inclusive for all types of dancers. I hope that the community will become more body positive. I am extremely appreciative of Disco Riot and the opportunities that they have presented dancers and choreographers so far. My hope is that all dancers will be accepted in our community, and will also be encouraged in their artistic endeavors.
Choreo & Kickball is a free event, so show support for these artists by signing up with the link below. We have one more blog post coming with a couple more artists, so stay tuned!
Park Social is a citywide initiative that introduces social-specific contemporary art into the City’s vast and varied park system.
