Today we’d like to introduce you to Heidi Duckler.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Heidi. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Heidi Duckler Dance was founded in 1985. I collaborate with artists and innovators from a variety of fields to create memorable performances that reflect the culture of the local communities they inhabit. I have produced and choreographed works in several iconic LA locations over the years, including: the Ambassador Hotel, Herald Examiner Building, Subway Terminal Building, Los Angeles City Hall, Van Nuys FlyAway Bus Terminal, the Dunbar Hotel and on the Tall Ships at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro.
The company has delivered educational programming and professional productions to neighborhoods including: Downtown LA (the Historic Core, Arts District, Produce District and Fashion District), Boyle Heights, Koreatown, Studio City, Van Nuys, Hollywood, Venice, San Gabriel and South LA as well as creating work globally, such as Dusseldorf Germany, Valparaiso, Chile, Hong Kong, China, and Yaroslavl, Russia, to name a few of the places where I have enjoyed making performances.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There are always challenges when working to engage audiences and communities, especially when trying to capture individual ways of existing in the world. The content of my work is created outside of a studio: there is no “backstage.” I work with my dancers to intimately observe the surroundings. These acts of noticing develop into relationships that set the framework for the transformation of the space.
I embrace the collaborative process. Evoking a particular place, my productions take a journey form, accounting for the pathways and experiences of the audience and each performance, although meticulously planned, allows for spontaneity. There is never a single approach, but the goal is always the building of social bonds and the audience is included in the creation process, in addition to the dancers and space.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Heidi Duckler Dance – what should we know?
Heidi Duckler Dance creates site-specific performances that transform non- traditional spaces, providing learning opportunities and engaging diverse communities in the belief that the arts can change our vision of the world and of ourselves.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Flexibility, originality, innovation, and empathy.
Pricing:
- Commissions for a new work range from $5,000 – $50,000
- Tickets to performances range from $15 – $250
- Lectures and Residencies range from $500 – $5,000
Contact Info:
- Address: 1206 Maple Street #1100B
Los Angeles, CA 90015 - Website: www.heididuckler.org
- Phone: 213-536-5820
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @heididuckler
- Facebook: @heididucklerdance
- Twitter: @heididuckler
Image Credit:
Rob Daly, Lee Gumbs, Mae Koo, Gema Galiana, Mark Lord, Sean Deckert
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