For the 14th season opener of Dance Allsorts, New Works chatted with Colleen Lanki of TomoeArts and Anusha Fernando of Shakti Dance. They shared  their vision as artists as well as insight on their upcoming shared solo bill on September 18, 2011.
 
When/where did you start dancing?
Colleen: I was about three years old. I studied tap and “jazz” with Evelyn Ward on East Hastings street in Vancouver.
Anusha: I started dancing when i was 18 in Montreal with Jai Govinda
 
Why do you keep dancing? Why is dance important to you?
C:I love physical storytelling. The body is, for me, a prime expressive tool for character and emotion.
A: I kept dancing because it became a form of self exploration. I soon realized the connection between my body and mind. Dance is a form of self expression (the self that i prefer) and a way for me to become clear in my life.
 
What is going on in dance right now that is exciting to you?
C: Interdisciplinary.  I love experiments in forms and genres.  What I do sits in both the theatre and dance worlds, and it can be annoying when people say “Well, that’s not dance!” then another says “So why is this theatre?” yet I love that they are confused...I am not a fan of “boxes”!
A: In Indian dance, there is a move away from the costuming and conventional stories to questioning and an exploration of  the bare bones of the practice. I find this exciting.
 
Could you tell me a little more about the show you will be doing at Dance Allsorts?
C: I will be performing 3 short solo dances from the classical nihon buyoh repertoire—each with a parallel theme to a bharatanatyam solo by Anusha (Shakti Dance).  We are both interested in the convergences and divergences between our respective forms, so this is like a research project for us.  We honestly found more dissimilarities, but there are some core similarities as well.
D: My answer is identical to Colleen's...
 
What's your favourite thing about performing?
C: The creative work in studio. AND The moment you are done and you realize you are still alive.
A: I enjoy working towards a performance—developing a practice routine and forcing myself to be disciplined and focused.  
 
Who are some of your important artistic influences? (dance or otherwise?)
C: My first nihon buyoh instructor Fujima Yûko.  Interdisciplinary theatre /dance companies like Théâtre du Complicité and Dumb Type. Theatre directors Robert Lepage and Anne Bogart. Dance-theatre empress Pina Bausch. Novelist Murakami Haruki.
A: I just returned from a workshop in the UK called Dance India so, at this moment, I'm inspired by the Indian classical dance gurus: Priya Darshini Govind, Leela Samson, Kumudini Lakhia and of course, Rukmini Devi. I'm always inspired by good writing, jazz music, Buddhist texts and literature, animals and nature.