Could you let our audience know what your early memories are of being attracted to dance?
One specific memory has stuck with me. It was in the early days of Phoenix Dance Theatre, they toured to my school; I lived in Cornwall and my school was a venue. In those days, in that part of Cornwall, there were no theatres for touring productions, so our school became a venue where shows would take place.
In that school venue, it allowed the audience to be very close to the dancers. I remember my first experience of being up-close and personal with professional dancers was with those Phoenix dancers. They were an all-male, all-black company at the time, so on many levels this was new and captivating for me. I remember one particular moment, when the dancers paused in a lunge; they were perfectly still, but as I was so close, I could hear them breathing and I saw a drop of sweat form and drip from a dancer’s chin. I had never seen that before. You could see how real it was. That impacted me and really made me think about dance and about my connection with it.
What happens after that experience?
Soon after that, Transitions Dance Company, the training company for the Laban Centre, came to my school and performed “Naufragés” by Claude Brumachon. It was so wonderful, such an amazing piece, and a brilliant performance, the audience could barely talk after the show had finished. That also had a major impact on me. While the company were there, I took my first contemporary dance workshop, which was also very memorable.
Was there any other experience which directed you towards dance?
I went to weekly ballet and tap classes and enjoyed drama at school. I had other hobbies though so my life wasn’t all about dance.
Did you get support at home or at school?
I auditioned for the first Cornwall Youth Dance Company at the age of 14. At that point I didn’t know I had much potential but I got in. Young dancers came from all over the county to a central place and we would dance all day. I was exposed to many dance styles and I discovered contemporary dance which seemed to suit me.
With regards support, the youth company would bring professional teachers in to help us develop, and they often encouraged me. My parents were such a support. They would drive me to the rehearsals and performances, which were quite a trek.
How do you go forward?
I applied for the National Dance Company at 16 years old, and although I got to the final, I didn’t get in. I hadn’t realised that many of the applicants were already training at dance colleges.
I decided to go to the Laban Centre Summer School to get more experience, and that changed my life. I was introduced to a style of contemporary dance which suited me, and ballet with a more contemporary approach. The next time I applied to the National Dance Company, I got in.
We had the experience of intensive rehearsals. And I got some touring experience too. I worked with some really impressive choreographers; like Richard Alston, Lee Anderson and Mark Murphy; they would be brought in to work with us. The company was run in a really professional way and because I was surrounded with people who were much better than I was, that pushed me to improve.
Did you go on do to further education in dance?
I went to the Laban Centre for Movement which I thought it was the right place for me at that time. I had started choreographing pieces on the Cornwall Youth Company and felt that at the time, the Laban Centre was leading the way in terms of choreography. I also got an academic degree, BA Honours, with rigorous dance training. It was incredibly useful for learning about choreography and learning to teach as well as all the training.
To see more of the work of Suzannah McCreight click on the following link – www.greenlightdancecompany.org
