TDM Artist Spotlight: Sidra Bell

Each semester, we have the honor of profiling some of the incredible professional artists involved in our TDM productions. Our first artist spotlight this spring shines on Sidra Bell! Sidra is one of the choreographers for this semester’s Harvard Dance Project. Check out more of Sidra’s work at www.sidrabelldanceny.org/

What inspires you as an artist and creative?

I love working in teams and generating ideas that emerge from the dynamics of the group that we merge together to find original language. I am also endlessly curious about the orchestration of the body and our bodily impulses.

What excites you about this year's Harvard Dance Project?

The work is structured as durational improvisation with frameworks the dancers move in and out of. Therefore, the piece will be different every night. This can be an exciting and freeing proposal for performers.

What has it been like collaborating with the team on this project?

The last week has been focused on solidifying structures so that the dancers have some freedom to make choices and deconstruct ideas in real time. I love seeing them live in ideas longer to see what the possibilities are when they respond to each other in real time.

My next big project is my tenure as the inaugural artist in residence at Gibney Dance. I will premiere work in NYC at Gibney Dance made possible by Creative Capital. The work is in collaboration with Immanuel Wilkins, composer and director of Immanuel Wilkins quartet.

Headshot by Umi Akiyoshi Photography

Photo 2 by Jen Guy Photography