Today we’d like to introduce you to Anastasia Waters.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story is all about dance. I began at the age of 3 when my mom put me in ballet class at the Ballet Conservatory, where she also taught. Dance has stayed in my life since then, and it certainly has not always been an easy road. But it grew into a strong passion of mine and a creative and emotional outlet I have come to rely on heavily over the years. In high school, in addition to my heavy ballet training, I discovered my special talent and passion for contemporary/modern dance; thank you to my instructor Shanon Tate. Contemporary/modern dance is where I placed my focus going forward, and went on to acquire my BFA in modern dance from Texas Christian University (2010). At TCU under the direction of some amazing scholars of dance, I discovered another passion of mine, and that is choreography. I learned the thrill of creating something from nothing and seeing how all of my thoughts, emotions, and ideas could be expressed through movement. After college, I really wanted to contribute to the Dallas/Fort Worth Art scene. I have lived here my whole life, so being involved in the growth of the art community in my hometown was important to me. So, after doing some freelance dancing with a variety of companies, I created and founded the professional modern dance company imPULSE dance project (2012). iDP began with 3 dancers that I gathered up as a result of a Facebook post calling for dancers. The beginning was not easy and at times rather discouraging. We had no funding and no space. We spent the first year just getting into a studio and creating. We finally got some performance opportunities at some local dance festivals, including the Out of the Loop Fringe Festival, where we danced on a giant tarp with paint, using our bodies and dance to paint the canvas. Following a year of guest performances, we finally acquired the funding to produce our own show. From there, things began to take off. I have had the honor of working with some amazing artists who have come through the company and some who have found a dance home in imPULSE dance project for several years. Through the seasons of iDP I have gotten to create work and performances that I truly feel are innovative and unique to the community. I love to create work that breaks the third wall between the dancers and the audiences, so most of our work takes place in very intimate spaces that allow us to bring our audience into the dance world we are creating. We have done Christmas performances in-the-round where the audience surrounds us as we dance, immersive dance performances where the dancers move all around the audience, and the audience is free to move about the space, and several other dance productions. imPULSE has become a place where like-minded artists have a space to create work and be involved in each other’s artistic vision; truly a dance family. We just completed our 10th season and are on to a new decade of dance!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The dance journey is certainly not always a smooth road, in fact, the road is probably more rocky than it is smooth. As a young dancer, I struggled with the demand for absolute excellence required to be successful. I was in a ballet world without the ideal ballerina body. I do not have long legs; I do not have those beautifully arched feet. I have always had more of an athletic build, as opposed to the petite length of a ballerina. I had to work fifty times harder than everyone else to achieve the desired ballet aesthetic. But through my intense ballet training, I discovered that I am an artist. Expressing myself through movement comes naturally to me, and telling stories through dance is something I’m passionate about. This strong technical base also led me to my success as a modern/contemporary dancer. For that, I am grateful. In my later years, as Artistic Director of a professional dance company, the biggest personal struggle has been, am I enough? Am I enough to fill a director role? Am I doing enough to ensure the success of the company? Is my vision worth presenting to the world? As artists, especially dance artists, it can be very vulnerable to place your work that is an embodiment of your thoughts, emotions, ideas, and creativity, out there for the public to see. I also wear a lot of hats in the company. In addition to creating work, putting together the line-up of shows, and directing rehearsals, I also do the marketing, organize fundraisers, accounting, email blasts, booking venues for shows; I have even built our own set pieces (giant puzzle) and made costumes for our shows (25 pairs of pants to be exact!). It is all a lot of work for one moment on stage! So, the path to dance is not easy. It is not something you can achieve without the drive, discipline, and PASSION necessary. You have to be willing to trudge through the rocky moments to be able to enjoy the reward of that moment your work comes to life on stage.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My specialty is contemporary/modern dance and choreography. I am most proud of what imPULSE dance project has grown to be. Overcoming the before-mentioned obstacles has made the reward that much greater. When I look at the artists who have contributed to the company and the work that is done in each rehearsal, I know the roadblocks along the way were worth it. I think the thing that sets me apart is I don’t give up. There were many moments I could have taken the easy road and called it quits, but that has never been my character in any aspect of my life. I also believe the artistry in my work sets me apart. Technique is important to me, but the story I am trying to tell is more important. I’m not interested in tricks, multiple turns, and high kicks if they don’t support the message I am trying to send. I am also not interested in a particular body type. The dancers in my company are beautifully unique individuals with different backgrounds and different experiences, and all have a story to tell. I am interested in how that diversity can come together to create something meaningful.
What do you think about happiness?
I think I am most happy when the people around me are happy and fulfilled. Personally, when I can feel that the people I care about are at peace, feel loved, and are fulfilled, I am happy. Professionally, when I look at the dancers in my company and see them inspired and invested in the work we are creating, I am happy because I was able to provide that time and space for them.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.imPULSEdanceproject.org
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/imPULSEdancepro
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/imPULSEdanceproject
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/imPUSLEdancepro
Image Credits
Meredith McInis
Paul Knudson
Bill Young
