Jean Augnet, dancer

VMAN When and how did you first realize that dancing would become your profession?

JA  I think when I first realize that when I was 12, it’s a bit cliché but I’ve watched the movie Billy Elliot and since I’ve never stopped training to become a dancer. 

VMAN If you weren’t a dancer, what would your life look like? 

JA My life would be quite boring I think, just studying at university something I don’t especially like, maybe politics?  

VMAN What are some inspirations surrounding the movement for this particular editorial for VMAN? What did you dance to? What kind of emotions did this shoot evoke? 

JA It was very contemporary in the movement, Sølve wanted us to break the lines to give some crazy movement! I danced to some disco, rap, r&b lots of variety in the music evoking plenty of emotions, like happiness and love for the movement. 

VMAN How has your life, and your spirit altered surrounding the pandemic? Are you channeling it through movement? Why or why not? 

JA During the pandemic I’ve learned a lot about how to work by myself and it has been great to experiment I would say. I had to explore different things because when you are by yourself you have more liberty of movement, no direction, just you exploring through the music. 

VMAN What are some of your favorite pieces of music to dance to, why? 

JA To be honest I don’t really have any favorite ones, I’m more into improvisation than choreography, so I find in each piece of music a singularity to be explored.

VMAN What goals do you have for the rest of this year and 2021? 

JA Always improving and learning. The world has been on hold, that was a challenge to accept and take advantage of to learn, explore, and improve more than ever!

Zack Tidswell, dancer

VMAN When and how did you first realize that dancing would become your profession?

Zack Tidswell I have been doing Ballet and Contemporary from the age of 3. I can’t describe how much I enjoy it. Dance has always been a place where I could go to be free from everything else and where I could lose myself in the movement. I’ve considered lots of different career paths but nothing I have done has come close to the love I have for dance. I think that deep down, I always knew I would go into it. 

VMAN If you weren’t a dancer, what would your life look like?

ZT Although I enjoy physics, math, and problem-solving, I would struggle to know what to do without dance. Ballet and other styles have given me drive, strength, commitment, focus, and many other non-dance specific skills. So funnily enough, I doubt I would be as good at other subjects if I’d never danced. I love to act, and would maybe have chosen that as a different pathway to go down.

VMAN What are some inspirations surrounding the movement for this particular editorial for VMAN? What did you dance to? What kind of emotions did this shoot evoke?

ZT The way I moved for this particular editorial was heavily influenced by Akram Khan’s ‘Giselle.’ This contemporary version of the ballet ‘Giselle’ is such a powerful comment on exploitation, class divide, and the frustration of those without a voice. Khan uses lots of powerful gestures and articulation of the hands to express these themes. I felt this drew an uncomfortably close parallel to this pandemic and how many felt abandoned by this government and the social elite. The way so many have faced such extreme uncertainty especially those who are economically, socially, and physically more vulnerable to this virus is a failure of this system.

I think people are feeling that they have not been listened to or protected enough. This shoot, the clothes, masks, and lighting awoke a part of me that wanted to express this. So when I moved, I moved with an uncomfortable grace. Powerfully but at the same time slow. I moved with tension both within my body and mind as I felt my frustration flowing out of me whilst I danced, for the people who are being exploited and whose voice is being ignored. I am so grateful to VMAN and everyone involved I had a place to dance and move this way.

VMAN How has your life, and your spirit altered surrounding the pandemic? Are you channeling it through movement?

ZT The pandemic was hard, my parents and brother work in the NHS, and that was very stressful for them so my brother and I cooked, helped out quite a lot with respect for them, and for other key workers. The community center I volunteer at gave me lots to do including shopping for the elderly and taking part in the youth club. They gave me a space to dance on zoom for which I am the most grateful. I would not have come through the first part of the pandemic as strongly if it were not for my amazing friends. I’m extremely grateful to JoeBlue, who is an amazing musician and a very kind man. Without having him around, making music with him and talking to him, I doubt I’d be the man I am today.  

VMAN What are some of your favorite pieces of music to dance to, why? 

ZT One of my favorite to dance to is music by the Penguin cafe orchestra. It captures the harmony of nature and many different species in the animal kingdom but is tinged with the sadness of climate change destroying these beautiful habitats. It is in my opinion one of the most beautiful pieces I have heard and is I feel very relevant to the current climate situation. That being said, I love all music and enjoy dancing to a variety of genres.

VMAN What goals do you have for the rest of this year and 2021?

ZT As a dancer or any creative, I feel it is particularly important to stay educated and informed as to what is going on around you. Creativity can ignite massive change and whole movements if we, in the creative industry, are willing and prepared to want to make that change. I am spending this year working towards improving my skill set and versatility as a dancer. I hope one day I can do what my role model Akram Khan does and create a piece so powerful it inspires others to want to dance.