WOMANITION MAGAZINE Womanition2017_Magazine_ForWEB (old) | Page 73

Artistic Director

Leanne Koziak

Mentors Around the World

As a young child I had dreamed of being a performer – a singer , dancer , actress . Throughout High School I had no clue what I wanted to be ‘ when I grew up ’ so I followed the suggestion of my best friend – Computing Science . If I had had any idea how sexy computers would become twenty years later , I might have stuck with it . However , programming ALGOL W code was time-consuming with little gratification , and I realized I didn ’ t want to spend my life in front of a computer . The joke is on me though , as I pretty much do .
There were three major shifts in my life that led me to the formation of Vinok Worldance , a professional company presenting the music and dance of the world ’ s cultures . The first was dropping out of university to enter the Dance Program at Grant MacEwan , where I not only earned my Diploma and took the first year of the teaching program , but I was also introduced to a number of mentors and ideas . These teachers helped me to understand that while creativity could not be taught , it could be cultivated . They certainly gave me the courage to want to go further in my career as a dancer .
This courage led to the second event that was critical in developing my career – a move to Amsterdam to join a professional dance company . This not only opened my eyes to the wealth of the world ’ s cultural dance , but it was a treasure of connections to choreographers , costumers , musicians and dancers . This company , then Internationaal Folkloristisch Danstheater , was the inspiration for Vinok . There were so many mentors , and their advice and guidance proved invaluable to the formation of our own company .
The connections we gained in Amsterdam allowed for the third major event – a twenty-month research tour of Eastern Europe . This included private instruction , village research , classes with companies , and attending various festivals and dance events . The mass of video , books , photos , and musical recordings formed the foundation of dance material that birthed Vinok Worldance . The numerous mentors along the way helped to prevent some mistakes as their guidance provided access to their vast knowledge and experience .
Things have changed drastically over the nearly 30 years since we started Vinok . In particular the Internet has changed the way we access information . Today it seems that I could access much of the information and research from the comfort of my laptop . What a divine joke to bring me full circle ! However , nothing can replace the real interaction with human mentors .
Artistic Director LEANNE KOZIAK
Vinok Worldance Ph : 780.454.3739 Fax : 780.454.3436 leanne @ vinok . ca website : vinok . ca , leannekoziak . ca
Christina Louise Photography
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