Dance TO Showcase Feature #6: The Joyful, Energetic, Indefatigable Anjelica Scannura

.       The more of these interviews I write, the more I realize the same words apply to all these artists: energetic, vivid, boundless, frank, funny, hardworking and genuinely nice. Trends appear in the answers of each artist, I hope you are reading and sensing them too. There's a call to get together, interact more meaningfully, learn from each other in real and artistic terms.

T    This artist is, like the others, a caring, joyful creature who pushes herself to try new ways of working, new avenues of performance and new embodiments of her goals. Usually I run into her on the subway or the bus somewhere, usually when I am feeling gray and defeated and she always is a focused beam of energy that jolts me out of that funk. 
       
       Anjelica Scannura is the daughter of Ritmo Flamenco founders Roger and Valerie Scannura, spokesartist for the company which is performing in the Dance TO Showcase Performances as part of Harbourfront Centre's programming.  Anjelica is a profound performer and creator with the company and in many other veins as well.
                                                                photo by Iden Ford

1    LUCY: Why was Ritmo Flamenco founded? 

R    ANJELICA: Ritmo Flamenco was founded in 1995 by my parents Roger and Valerie Scannura. Valerie graduated from the National Ballet of Canada’s teacher training program and then spent many years intensifying her knowledge of Flamenco in both Canada and Spain.  
       
       This, in conjunction with Roger’s musical knowledge and a desire to fulfill a lifelong dream, provided them with the means to create a school known for it’s technical prowess and the mandate to create choreography that transcends the stylistic boundaries of traditional Flamenco.  Also,  after I was born and was introduced to dance at such an early age,  I developed strong feelings towards being a part of the school and creating.
photo by Jon James

LUCY: What keeps you inspired as a dancer, as a creator? 

2     ANJELICA: What keeps me inspired as a dancer and creator are my travels as a student, teacher, performer and choreographer.  I have a diverse palette of tools that I use to express and bring attention to current world affairs, where the dance is a sculpture for audience members to relate to and think about our relationships with each other and society.  My previous works have circulated the topics of personality disorders, war, Sharia law and now in development, the impending extinction of bees.
photo by Mervat Kassissieh

LUCY: What do you think dance artists can do to improve the health of the Toronto dance community? --not that it’s ailing, just trying to brainstorm ideas to make it better and better.
3
       ANJELICA: I think that that dance artists can improve the health of the Toronto dance community by going to see each other’s performances!

photo by  Mervat Kassissieh
    

      LUCY: what is your dream project for Ritmo Flamenco?
          ANJELICA: My dream for Ritmo Flamenco would be to tour.  We have amassed a bevy of material that has not quite had the chance to reach it’s full potential or be shared with the rest of Canada.  Our material is unique, contemporary, yet pays homage to the structure of it’s origins.  Our productions are artistic, yet commercially viable with great track records of success.
photo by Mary Perez

       LUCY: Can you tell me about a performance you’ve seen that was a game changer — artistically or personally? Something you were in the audience for, rather than performing in. Who was it, when, where, why was it impactful?

      ANJELICA: Very recently, for Panamania, I had the pleasure of seeing Robert Lepage’s production “887” at the Bluma Appel theatre.  I was blown away about the rollercoaster of emotions I experienced despite the subject matter being something I don’t necessarily relate to or harbor any strong feelings towards, and the quiet complexity of the production as a whole.

       It was a one-man show written and directed by Lepage, with a large crew, whom shifted and transformed the set and it’s infinite components so effortlessly.  It was the kind of show that, if something were to go wrong, it would be completely obvious.  The performance, writing, use of technology and set design were in the upper echelons of intricacy, yet pulled off so simply.


      Be blown away by Ritmo Flamenco
      Tuesday September 29th at 4:45 pm
      Fleck Dance Theatre
      admission is free but RSVP to info@dancetoshowcase.com to ensure a seat

       full showcase schedule here: http://www.dancetoshowcase.com/#!showcase-performances/czy5

       all about Dance TO Showcase here: www.dancetoshowcase.com

       all about Ritmo Flamenco: http://www.ritmoflamenco.net




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