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2:00 AM 2nd July 2022
arts

Weekend Interview: Northern Ballet Expressions - Interview With Jem Clancy

 
Jem Clancy - credit Theo Clinkard
Jem Clancy - credit Theo Clinkard
Jem Clancy is a visual and movement artist based in Leeds, passionate about dance and art as a means towards communication and connection. She is passionate about inclusion and has become a keen advocate behind the scenes, encouraging others so that they get the best opportunities.

She will be showcasing her new dance film at Northern Ballet’s Expressions 2022 on Thursday 7 July.

What inspired you to start dancing?

I don’t remember a time before dance was my life, I was really young when I started. So I can’t tell you what inspired me to start but I can tell you what inspires me to continue. Firstly, I love that there is always something more to experience, to learn, to be challenged and inspired by. Every new person you meet is unique, every new class or project is an opportunity and I love that through dance I am able to connect with people and situations and just the world in general in ways that I cannot in my everyday life outside of dance.

Everyone, whether they identify as disabled or not, has talents, just as everyone has their own limitations. Dance has helped me to identify and work through both. I will be eternally grateful for that and it motivates me when I work with others to help them, through dance, realise themselves.

Whatever reason people come to dance, be it as a performer themselves in class, on stage, for pleasure or as career, or just to watch in the audience, there is a place for everyone.

How would you describe your dance films?

I have had a long interest in digital art and filmmaking, but it is really only in the last few years that I have seriously sat down and tried to teach myself how to turn that interest into an actual something. So I would say, right now, my dance films are deliberately quite eclectic in style and content because I am not wanting to restrict myself in any way. I have a huge imagination and curiosity which I am enjoying experimenting with and that definitely feeds into how varied my films end up! I find the best way to learn is just to do and, if it’s just for me, not worry too much what something might look like, or what it might be. Since I really enjoy working with other people, that too adds to the diversity of what I make because I am always attempting to respond to the individual or individuals I am working with at that time.

I did become really interested in animation during lockdown, so a lot of my work will feature animation in some way. However, I really like to push myself, so I am always challenging myself to find different ways of drawing and capturing movement. Right now, I am working a lot on finding ways to blend real life film with animation. At first my animation represented real life, I would often draw what I could see. Then I realised of course I could also draw what I couldn’t see and now I am really interested in sharing different ways of seeing and experiencing the world. So for example, I can draw how people imagine the world looks like in their head. I find it really exciting finding ways to express different feelings or sensations that otherwise would never be seen.

Where do you look for inspiration?

I think a lot of disabled people can find themselves becoming advocates for change, deliberately or not, because we are having to fight every day to be seen, to be listened to. I have definitely found myself wanting to change things so that others do not have to experience what I have. Over time how I do that has changed. It has impacted how I work, who I work with, where and why I volunteer and so on. It has also impacted my art and become perhaps my most important inspiration.

A lot of my art and dance work is about telling stories and the stories I want to share most are those from people who are on the outside, who are disabled or otherwise marginalised and excluded from society in some way. I might be making dance, but most often I am attempting to speak beyond that because of course dance doesn’t happen in a vacuum. The dance industry, every single opportunity in dance, every dancer is impacted by society and how it works. It determines who experiences dance, where, how. I work very hard to be inclusive in everything I do, but it is also my inspiration. There is so much we can learn from each other, so much we can give and take in return. I work with Northern Ballet’s Ability group for instance, I hope I give them confidence in themselves as much as I do as dancers, because I know most definitely it is what they give me.

When I make my films I am taking inspiration from real life, the highs lows, the fun, the tears, the frustrations and celebrations. I have always learnt through making art and I think my films are an extension of this. I am forever inspired by trying to find a way to communicate. For me, and lots of the people I work with, speaking with words does not always come or feel easy to us. Movement and art, colours, sounds, shapes and so on interpret much better sometimes what we want to express.

Jem Clancy in HELM - credit Camilla Greenwell
Jem Clancy in HELM - credit Camilla Greenwell
Could you tell us about Expressions? What can audiences expect?

Joy is the first word I always think of. I smile the whole day at Expressions and I am definitely not the only one. People can expect to be welcomed into a safe space, one that not only talks about inclusion but also practices it. You will see people of just about every kind of difference you can imagine. Open your heart and you will leave with new friends.

The dancing is just as unique and as beautiful as the dancers. The dancers sit with the audience and I love that. It is a shared and equal experience, so performing or not, everyone is made to feel special. Personally I think we need more of that, more spaces where we all lift each other up rather than finding divisions. The performances are relaxed so everyone can enjoy it in a way that is comfortable for them. Don’t worry about sitting still or quiet, be yourself you are welcome just as you are!

Staff are always available to talk through any questions or worries, so if like me, you come on your own, don’t be scared because there will always be people looking out for you and making sure you are ok. If you are curious about what dance opportunities there are for you locally, this is also a great place to see what there is and meet people from those different organisations. As well as the local community groups there is always at least one professional group or company in attendance too. Typically they are disability led and/or inclusive companies. When I was growing up there was no-one like me on the stage, but at Expressions I can bet you will see at least one person like you. And if you can’t, come and see what is possible and find out how you can be part of it next time!

You’ve also been working with Northern Ballet’s Ability group this year, can you tell us about what you’ve made together?

I so enjoy working with Sophie, Louise and the Ability dancers. This year we have made a piece which combines dance on film and live performance in the theatre. We took inspiration from real life happening in the immediate area surrounding the building. First, we thought about all the things we could see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. We thought about all the activities happening, which for quite a small space there is an awful lot! The filmed part captures the movement we found outdoors. The live movement will share what we created in the studio in response to all we had discovered.

Can you tell us about the film you’ll be showing this year?

The film I am showing is a little insight into part of my life story. This is quite new for me as, I mentioned before, mostly I am sharing others’ stories. The film starts with me in the audience and that’s where I mostly find myself, observing and watching. Eventually I sit on the edge of the stage, but I’m not dancing I am drawing. The first time I was accepted by the industry as a professional was for my drawing. The film ends with me dancing with the animation I made. We are outside and I suppose that was me recognising that dance can happen anywhere, you don’t have to wait for a stage or for someone to give you a space on it. You can be a dancer on your own terms, anywhere and anytime you want to be. Of course what makes it extra exciting about sharing this film with Expressions is that actually my dancing will be seen on a stage through this film. So I do make it in the end, not just watching but being the dancer too that others can see.

This is the first year Expressions will be performed in person since the pandemic, how does that feel?

It feels so exciting to be able to see everyone in person again. The pandemic of course has been incredibly hard for everyone, but I think it's fair to say that the disabled community has been hit in particular. I know that Expressions is slightly smaller this year and that is in part because the community is still being unequally impacted from it. Not everyone has been able to resume in-person activity, or not long enough to have been able to prepare to perform. I am glad though that we still have the event happening this year because I think it has become even more important to celebrate who we are and what we can do.