Conversations in art can be cyclical to the times and trends in which discoveries are made, events take place, and change is acted upon. Other conversations are continuous as those dicsoveries are developed deeper, events keep happening, and still more change is needed. Shawn Rawls and Bill Wade have been in conversations for years – in and out of the studio. The two worked together closely and Bill continues to be a mentor for Shawn as he now enters another phase in his professional career. Upon recently earning his M.F.A. during this pandemic and continuing work with his company, Emotions Physical Theatre, Shawn graciously reflected on how Bill Wade has helped IMPACT how he creates work, the conversations he is having, and the business models he is adapting. Shawn Rawls, Artistic Director of Emotions Physical Theatre in New York City, studied with Bill Wade, Founder and Exec/Artistic Director of Inlet Dance Theatre, at Cleveland School of the Arts and continued his dance career with Inlet Dance Theatre after high school graduation.
Shawn Rawls:
“I earned my M.F.A. during this time of perpetual uncertainty. I believe this moment in time will be one of the most difficult periods for American dance history. Since my many years away from the origins of my dance training with Bill Wade and at Inlet Dance Theatre, I have found that many academic, commercial, and concert dance spaces have lost their way. They have fallen into cheap sensationalism or agitprop work. As such, it’s lacking the authenticity that I was trained to pursue. As I approached graduation, I expressed my concerns to my friend, mentor, and former director Bill Wade. Through my relationship with Bill I have found a clearer worldview, understood that creativity is a tool to solve problems, and to relentlessly pursue integrity. I have found that these skills are more important than any degree could ever offer. Those skills make an artist. The artist notices a problem and comes up with creative ways to solve it and asks the audience to discuss and ponder common thoughts from a different perspective and in a nuanced manner. It’s someone who is a community beacon. Inlet, with Bill Wade’s instruction, instilled this desire in me to be a “real” artist. During our last conversation, he gently reminded me of my mission and to not get distracted. I feel confident that with these skills and with this degree I will survive the coming economic depression that will hit the arts the hardest while being able to authentically pursue artistic craftsmanship. My relationship with Bill Wade has shaped my career in a few ways. I have studied with Bill at two different points in my life. Each impactful. First, I learned to love and appreciate dance. I was originally a visual artist. Without meeting Bill, I might have never started dancing. The second takeaway was that dance can be a way of intimate communication between dancer to dancer, and dancer to audience member. That’s my job as a choreographer, dancer, and teacher. I remember once Bill asked us to create movement (improvisational movement and we spent the time doing every trick we had. Bill took the time to not only teach us improvisation, but that dance was not about being solely impressive; it’s about communicating. Then he demonstrated it for us. A third point was his passion for men dancing and using dance to express masculinity. To this day, my work as an artist still talks about this subject in depth. Fourth, understanding connection between history, art, and the present. Bill would always say to us it is difficult to create the new thing without understanding the past. Fifth, having a good community + a mission = good art. Sixth (this is a big one), I learned how to have control in my movement. Release technique helped me to have a maturity in my movement and choreography. To this day my work and pedagogy greatly pulls from these ideas. Seven, I latched onto the Nontraditional Partnering movement (which is very visible in my work). I also use the ideas we learn in technique: “A partner can never be 100% correct or 100% wrong, both partners need to approach the work giving and listening 100%.” This stuck with me in all of my relationships–business and romance. Eight, Bill shared company management with his dancers. This was a big lesson and I had goals to aim for 10 years before I was ready to run a company. What I learned was: A) this is hard and B) diversify income streams. Inlet’s organizaitonal model emphasizes a high percentage of earned income. Everyday I am remembering new things from my time with Bill Wade. My career and art would not be the same without him.”
Images (top to bottom): Michelle Irene Sipes, Amile Wilson, Jaqlin Medlock
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