Transition is presented by National Theatre Wales in association with Theatr Iolo and Run Ragged productions. It’s a dance theatre work made by 49-year-old contemporary dancer, Jem Treays and his 11-year-old daughter, Ella Treays.
Ella and Jem:
ASIW: What’s Transition about?
E: It’s about me and my dad dancing.
J: As the title suggests Transition is a show about change. Ella is becoming a teenager and I’m turning 50 and in the show we negotiate that. It’s about memories and dreams and about trying to hold on to the now.
Onstage, a combination of past and present home video, act as a backdrop to live dialogue, text and dance. By weaving together these elements in performance we are trying to capture something of our ordinary yet re-present
them as extra-ordinary.
ASIW: How did the work come about?
E: When I was little I always danced with my dad in the kitchen. When my dad asked me to do the show I said yes straight away.
J: I have had the idea to make a show with Ella for ages. My wife and I job shared at RWCMD for years, so I was always hands on in bringing up our kids. Ella spent most of her childhood cartwheeling or hanging off something. As a toddler she would climb to the highest rung of the climbing frame in Roath Park, scaring the life out of the other parents. Making a show with her always felt on the cards. After casually suggested making a show together she hassled me for a year constantly. Transition is the outcome.
ASIW: Why did you want to make the work?
E: Because I love dancing on my own and with my dad and I wanted to share that. It’s good we are doing it now, before I’m too old and he can’t lift me.
J: In my capacity as director of Run Ragged Productions I am interested in developing original work for family audiences. Transition offers a new and exciting way of presenting family friendly work. I think a father and daughter dancing onstage together will really resonate with children and their parents.
Personally I want Ella to experience my world as a contemporary dance maker. At the moment she is doing six ballet classes a week (taught at Mandy Morris Ballet School) and she’s a Ballet Cymru Associate. She loves it -and that’s great- but making Transition with Ella has been a deliberate strategy to counterpoint that diet of ballet. Transition has exposed her to a devising process in which she is choreographing and writing dialogue. In performance she’s speaking and improvising. As well as giving her these new skills I like to think the work offers her an alternative perspective on femininity in dance.
How has it been working together?
E: Making the show has been both fun and frustrating. Sometimes we disagree or we have to do bits over and over again which makes me grumpy. On the whole, it’s been fun though.
J: I feel lucky to share a professional relationship with her. It feels like a rare opportunity. In the studio she’s like an old pro, she brings so much to the table: an incredible memory, flexibility, strength and endurance. She’s also got great feel and musicality. I feel very grateful- after all Ella’s giving up her weekends and holidays to do this. I’ve structured rehearsal around her needs- when she’s tired- we stop.
ASIW: Can you both describe the process of making Transition?
E: Both dad and I have made the steps. It’s not ballet- I like the discipline and technique of that- this is free-er and you get to make your own stuff up. My dad’s very annoying and sometimes we disagree but we also compromise and combine our ideas.
J: Ella and I have had two short studio rehearsal phases supported by NTW’s WalesLab. We start the third and final rehearsal phase tomorrow before the show opens at Chapter. Having the support of NTW has been fantastic.
Paula Crutchlow has directed us (with whom I have previously made Walkie Talkie, Is This It and Transducer). As director she has a really good understanding of how to work interface between technology, improvisation and the body. In addition to this a team of artists offering video, sound, lighting, design and choreography have contributed to the collaborative working process.
For Ella and I the work has become a big part of our life. For the last few months we have been audio recording our conversations, videoing our dancing in the kitchen and observing everyday interactions. Transition really is us, now.
ASIW: Any other thoughts to share?
E: If we do this again in 20 years time I’ll be 31 and dad will be 70! I hope that happens.
J: Someone asked Ella the other day if she wanted to be a professional dancer when she grew up. She answered- I am already!
Transition is presented by National Theatre Wales in association with Theatr Iolo and Run Ragged productions. It’s
Transition is on at 300pm and 730pm on April 10, 11, 2015 at Chapter Arts Centre. Aimed at audiences of 7+.
Tickets £7 at http://www.chapter.org/transition-0
Wales Dance Consortium are supporting a tour of Wales in Autumn 2015.