Choreographer, performer, and dance scholar Vershawn Ward is the founder and executive artistic director of Chicago-based Red Clay Dance Company.
Ward holds an MFA in dance from Tisch School of Dance at New York University and is proud to be the first recipient of a BFA in dance from Columbia College Chicago. Her work has been presented at festivals in New York; Chicago; Kalamazoo, Michigan; The Yard at Martha’s Vineyard; Toronto; Toubab Dialaw; Senegal; and Kampala, Uganda. She is a 2013 3 Arts awardee and is the recipient of a 2009 Choreography Award from Harlem Stage NYC for the creation of her solo work, “New World Afrikan,” which premiered at the Dance Transmissions Festival in Kampala, Uganda.
Vershawn has served as an adjunct faculty member and facilitated residencies both nationally and internationally, at City Colleges of Chicago, the Dance Center of Columbia College, L’Ecole De Sables, the National Theatre, Kampala, and Knox College.
Rolling out recently sat down with Ward to discuss her journey in the world of dance as well her upcoming projects including a collaboration with fellow 3 Arts’ awardee, photographer Marta Garcia, in the creation of Ward’s first evening-length work ri’flekSHens in 6.
How did you get your start in dance?
I began dancing at the age of 9 at the American Dance Center in Homewood, Illinois. I took classes in ballet, jazz and tap. I divided my time between dance and sports throughout elementary school and high school. It wasn’t until after high school that I decided I wanted a career in dance so I transferred from the college I was attending to Columbia College Chicago.
Describe your journey in the world of dance as far as the evolution of women as choreographers after the field was male-dominated for so long?
I really began to find my choreographic voice during my studies at Columbia College. The dance world has been historically dominated by male choreographers for quite a long time, my hope is that the female choreographers’ work is one day also seen as “cutting edge” and “innovative.” There is still an imbalance in the support for women-led companies, I don’t know what that is all about, but I believe that we have to keep making the work and making noise so that our voices can not be ignored. I think its like that in a lot of fields, not just dance. That the work of the woman is not valued or equal to. We have seen that throughout history. So, with my production of La Femme, that is my contribution to help shift these perspectives toward our work.
Tell us about the Red Clay Dance Company.
I founded Red Clay Dance in 2008 after finishing my MFA at New York University. The summer after graduation I spent a month at “The Yard” in Martha’s Vineyard dancing in a choreographic residency. This is where I begin to think more deeply about my work and how I wanted the world to experience it. When thinking about the name of the company, I wanted something more descriptive then just my name. I am originally from Alabama, and a very vivid memory from my childhood was the red dirt I used to play in. It got all over your clothes. I loved it. I also though about how we as dance makers, shape and mold our movement into a choreographed dance, into a work of art, just like the potter molds clay to create a thing. So that’s where the name Red Clay Dance comes from. Ever since my first encounter with a dance company called Urban Bush Women, I knew I wanted my work to address social imbalances. After my first summer institute with the founder of UBW, I fully committed to the role of artist/activist. So that is where most of the ideas from my work come from. We are an all female company of dancers with varying backgrounds, and the esthetic of dance we create, perform and teach is Afro-Contemporary Dance.
What are your duties as executive artistic director of the Red Clay Dance Company?
I am in charge of the day-to-day operations of the company. Managing our small staff and organizational budget under with the guidance of our Board of Directors. I also write some of our grants and work very closely with our grant writer in finding funds to support the company’s general operating budget. I am also in charge of the Artistic Direction of the company and currently am the sole choreographer. Next season, we will begin to bring in guest choreographers to set work on the company. We are in the selection process now as to who that first choreographer will be.
Can you talk about the three part series with last month’s La Femme, the upcoming Dance4Peace presentation and next month’s ri’flekSHens in 6?
La Femme was our black female choreographers showcase. It is an opportunity to introduce these choreographers to Chicago audiences and provide a platform for these artists work to be celebrated and supported. Trying to level the playing field of female versus male choreographers. Dance4Peace is our annual youth concert featuring our Youth Ensemble and Academy students. We also invite 3-4 other youth organizations to participate each year in the concert from the Chicago land area, as well as Wisconsin and Indiana. A component we added last year was the Community Hug Awards that simply recognize game changers in our community that are using their gift in the arts to positively impact the lives of youth people. Lastly, ri’flekSHens in 6 is my first evening-length work and is a ‘world premiere. The work is a personal ode to my father and explores relationships between fathers and daughters. As girls develop into women, we realize the character traits, both good and bad, passed along from our fathers to us. The traits may be the same but may manifest themselves in a different way, because it’s coming from the female body.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to young dancers looking to further pursue the art form?
Don’t be afraid to be different and unique. You already are, just embrace it. And as you develop, continue to search for what makes you unique in terms of your artistry. Once you know what that is, then you work to be the best at that. Whatever it is.
Do you have a favorite book that you highly recommend?
Any book by Toni Morrison
Any favorite quotes or affirmations?
“I AM ENOUGH!”
What’s in the near future for Vershawn Ward and the Red Clay Dance Company?
We are working toward building our touring schedule for the new work ri’flekSHens in 6. Organizationally, we just completed our 5-year strategic plan so we are excited to dive into the implementation of this plan to create a more stable and productive dance organization. Personally, this summer I will begin my certification process for the Dunham technique and one day go back to school for my PHD..one day.
The DANCE4PEACE concert will be held on April 11 at the Comer Center on located at 7200 S. Ingleside in Chicago.
The ri’flekSHens in 6 will be May 1-2 at the Beverly Arts Center located at 2407 W. 111th Street in Chicago.
For more information on Vershawn Ward or the Red Clay Dance Company, please visit www.redclaydance.com.
