New Gallery: On Her Toes

About Town talks to Artistic Director of the AROVA Contemporary Ballet (ACB) Alison Cummins.

Tell us a little about the differences in contemporary ballet and traditional?

Contemporary ballet blurs the boundaries between classical dance and other forms such as jazz and modern, without diminishing the skill and athleticism involved in the more traditional form.

What sort of themes or stories are involved in contemporary ballet?

Pop culture trends, current films and visual art often influence the contemporary form. Contemporary ballet is unabashedly sleek and relevant.

You’ve moved more into the choreography end of the performance. Have you found instruction or execution to be tougher?

It’s not always natural or easy for a dancer to make the transition. I’ve had injuries and setbacks in my dancing career, but I know these events have steered me to a path where I can best use my gifts.

You were Assistant to the Dance Supervisor of The Lion King on Broadway. What did you learn from this experience?

I learned to treat everyone, in all levels of production, with respect and to not be shy about asking for precision in execution.

What’s the most common misconception people have of dancers or dancing?

The dancers I work with are some of the smartest people that I have ever come across. At ACB, we have some incredibly talented professional company members who are also studying to be nurses, dieticians and teachers. Maybe this is something people would not expect.

Every performer must learn to deal with criticism. What advice would you give to someone for handling it?

A teacher will criticize you because they believe you can improve and be successful. In general, when you walk into an audition, those that are casting want you to be successful. Only you can undo yourself.

There seem to be lots of young girls who start ballet at the age of 5 or 6. What can dance do for such a young person?

Dance is a hobby that exercises the mind, the body, and the spirit. But, to be honest, most young girls eventually decide to follow different opportunities once they are exposed to the realities of the athleticism and dedication that ballet demands.

It would seem dancing is more physically demanding than any other art form. How do you train?

All true art forms demand physical dedication. Our company members go through an intense regimen of classical ballet technique classes. Classical ballet training is the proven method for building the “athlete” we are looking for.

What are the long-term goals for your company?

Our mission is to provide opportunities for young professionals to work with leading choreographers on new works. Long-term goals build on our mission to include programming for children, live music, and guest visits from an increasing array of major players in contemporary dance.

Alison Cummins Page has been dancing and choreographing professionally for over ten years. She attended the Alabama School of Fine Arts from Dame Sonia Arova, Therese Laeger and Thor Sutowski. Upon completing a B.F.A. in Dance from the University of Arizona and an M.A. in Arts Education from New York University, she became the founding Artistic Director of the AROVA Contemporary Ballet (ACB). Today the ACB is a professional company that contracts ten professional dancers and multiple national guest artists each year. To learn more visit www.arova.org.