Get your tickets to see Alex and all of the ChoreoFest artists at Ignite at Green Street on June 23rd!  Nicole Harris: You talk a lot about tying fiber arts into your work as a choreographer. Can you talk about places where those two worlds have intertwined in your work? What draws you to those two art forms? Alexander Davis: Fiber is a very empathetic medium. There are lots of shared, tactical experiences with fiber and textiles. When one sees fiber in a heightened artistic context, it is easier to have a physical, empathetic response to it. For this reason I have always believed that dance and fiber are connected. I have created fiber works that are simply wall hangings, or installation experiences, but I have also create knit costumes and performance environments. Everything is related.  Photo by Olivia Blaisdell N: You are the director of Urbanity Dance’s Summer Choreography Intensive Program. Can you tell me a little about the program? What makes that particular program unique? AD: Urbanity's Summer Choreography Intensive program is a highly curated, one-week intensive focusing on creating a platform for helping emerging artists continue to develop their voices as makers. The cohort of artists work and support each other throughout the week. They create work across community spaces in Boston's South End, and it culminates in an informal showing. I believe what makes this program unique is the individualized attention and mentorship that each student receives during their time. I (along with a group of guest artists) take the time to first identify each individuals goals as a dance maker before then helping them gain the skills and experience to achieve growth within towards those goals.  Photo by Celso Enrique N: You will be working in one of the site specific locations at this year’s ChoreoFest. Where will you be working and what made you choose that spot? AD: I enjoy adapting my work for specific spaces. In this case I was attracted to the nook between studios 1 and 2 as a challenge to explore entrance and exits. The nook is framed by two door ways. I am looking to use this time to research entrances, exits, beginnings, and endings in order to inform future, evening length works that are currently in process with my collaborator Joy Davis. N: What are you most nervous about for ChoreoFest? AD: I am most nervous about being exhausted. I usually go to bed around 11:00pm and wake up around 7:00am. I am anxious about staying up all night, and how that will affect the following few days and the work I have to get done in those days.  Photo by Sarah Bilotta Belclaire N: Who are your mentors, past and present? AD: It takes a village, and I am endlessly grateful to all of the folks who have supported me and continue to support me along my journey. I would say my collaborators are my primary mentors; Joy Davis, Jenna Pollack, Harrison Burke, Eric Mullis and beyond. Peter DiMuro. Monica Bill Barnes. William Seigh. Too many to count and name. Thank you to all.  Photo by Celso Enrique N: Where else can we find you this Spring/Summer? AD: I will be performing at Gibney Dance in NYC with Peter DiMuro/Public Displays of Motion June 13-15th. This summer I am focusing on my own dance training by participating in One Body One Career at Springboard in Montreal. This is a two week Counter Technique intensive in July. In August I will be directing Urbanity's Choreography Intensive and preparing for the upcoming semester at Endicott College, where I am on faculty in the Visual and Performing Arts Department.  Photo by Celso Enrique N: What other local companies/ choreographers do you recommend people check out? Why? AD: Boston has a dynamic and growing dance community. Joy Davis is my dear friend and collaborator (together we are The Davis Sisters), who is developing beautiful and thoughtful work. I am a huge fan of Heather Stewart. Her recent premier of "against hard air" at the Boston Center for the Arts was unbelievable. 
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