Choreographer Timothy Gordon
Choreographer Timothy Gordon has worked with some of the world’s greatest dancers, choreographers and dance companies. He is currently choreographing the dance component of the NBR New Zealand Opera’s production of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin.
Set in 19th-century Russia and based on Alexander Pushkin’s novel, Eugene Onegin is opera with all the opulence and grandeur of the era.
During what hours of the day do you feel most inspired?
Before the news
How would a good friend describe your aesthetic or style?
Practical and understated, slight flair for proportion
What aspect of your creative practice gives you the biggest thrill?
Working with unique and dedicated artists with an all embracing approach to creative life
How does your environment affect your work?
Makes it or breaks it
Do you like to look at the big picture or focus on the details?
Start with the big picture, end with the details
What's your number one business tip for surviving (and thriving) in the creative industries?
Pray and don’t give up communicating
Which of your projects to date has given you the most satisfaction?
The concept of integration, that of working as a band with people over time, as with the dancers of companyzdance or with the Singapore Dance Theatre. I have also had it as a teacher in many environments.
Who or what has inspired you recently?
How we as a world body are now having to embrace each other as nations that rely on each other for our productivity as well as our understanding of our dependence on the natural environment as our life source that is shared and respected by all peoples and all nations
If you could go back and choose a completely different career path to the one you've chosen, what would it be?
A conductor
What place is always with you, wherever you go?
The place of sharing
What's the best way to listen to music, and why?
Alone without the phone or mobile. Attention and imagination need nurturing and focus.
You are given a piece of string, a stick and some fabric. What do you make?
Am I on desert island?
What's the best stress relief you've ever been given?
A new contract
What's great about today?
The work that has gone into it
What’s your big idea for 2009?
2010!
- Timothy Gordon
Timothy Gordon has created dance works for The Royal New Zealand Ballet, The Australian Ballet Company, The Singapore Dance Theatre, The Australian Opera.
He has taught throughout Europe and Australia including The Stuttgart Ballet in Germany, in Switzerland at The Bejart Ballet-Lausanne and The Bejart School – Rudra, The Vienna State Opera Ballet in Vienna, The Royal Danish Ballet, The Tokyo Ballet, The Academy of Performing Arts at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia and West Australian Ballet.
Returning to New Zealand in 2001, he danced in the production of Manon for the New Zealand Opera and was guest teacher for The Royal New Zealand Ballet. In 2002, Gordon was appointed Senior Lecturer and Dance Programme Co-ordinator at the School of Creative and Performing Arts, The University of Auckland. He received a research grant for investigation into the effects of the Alexander Technique on Classical Ballet training. In 2005 Gordon became the founding director and principal teacher at City Ballet in Auckland, a new tertiary dance programme for classical dance training and performance, where he choreographed Blue Tango and Fragments.
Gordon founded the Company Z Dance Trust in 2006. Choreographing various new works including Juliet’s Code, Peter and the Wolf and Mass. He was also Artistic Director of AUT University Dance Collective in 2008. Currently he is freelancing as a choreographer and a teacher.
Comments
18 August 2009 - 19:21 PM
Thanks for your questions for choreographer Timothy Gordon. His answers are below.
Congratulations to Brough Johnson, who has won a double pass to the opening night in Auckland on Thursday September 17.
Hi Timothy,
What is the hardest thing about the creative process for you?
Claire
Hi Claire,
The endurance required to see it all through to the end.
Timothy
What key elements do you try to draw out of dancers to push the whole performance beyond good into extraordinary?
mostly getting rid of cliches and stereo typical responses. Builing relationships and dynamics. Extending personl range technically and artistically.
Amanda Rees
What are some of the images which have inspired you whilst choreographing Eugene Onegin?
The film Russian Ark. The architecture and design of the Opera. Russian painting. Images and scenario's the director Patrick Nolan is providing.Tchaikovsky's score!
Is your choreography a personal physical process or do you visualize the movement?
Brough Johnson - editor
It is a coordinated physical and mental process with the many influences of past and present being tested and tried in the arena of creative possibility. Visualization is always active and plays a role in orgaization and design of the choreography.