Getting to Know Sarah Friswell Cotton

by Sam Mullen

Sam has been busy interviewing the artists we are working with for re{ACT} re{BUILD} re{COLLECT} at the Multicultural Arts Center.  Here is our guest artist, Sarah Friswell Cotton!

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​Sam Mullen: You used to dance with Monkeyhouse a bit more regularly before you went to grad school.  We are so excited to have you back working with us again!  What are some ways you keep dance in your life?
Sarah Friswell Cotton: I use dance as exercise all the time. It helps keep me active and helps keep me happy when life gets crazy. I try to take dance classes when I can but it's hard to get into the city where the classes I want to take are happening.
Dance and performance impacts my teaching all the time. I use my performing to try to engage my students all the time. We even create dance moves to help remember different science ideas. I use my expression and performance techniques as much as I can. It also makes my job more fun.

SM: You grew up dancing with Nicole and Karen at Impulse Dance Center.  The piece you are performing for this concert came out of an adult tap class you took at Impulse just last year.  Can you talk about transitioning from being a student to the world of Monkeyhouse?
SFC: It's funny because I have known Nicole for a very long time in a number of capacities so the transition has not been something I've put much thought into. She has been my babysitter, a family friend, a teacher, a mentor, a company director, and now a friend so it has felt like a very seamless transition to be performing together now.

SM: In addition to dancing you also sing. At times you can even be found with an a cappella group based out of Brookline!  What do you think draws you to those two art forms?
SFC: I think my passion for performing is what keeps me looking for opportunities like Monkeyhouse and like a cappella. I really enjoy performing and being in front of an audience. It is really thrilling and really fun to have an audience enjoy watching you or listening to you. I guess, for this performance, they will be watching AND listening since I'm performing in a tap piece.

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You can catch Sarah at
re{ACT} re{BUILD} re{COLLECT}
on March 29-30th at the
Multicultural Arts Center in Cambridge, MA

Get your tickets today for
$5 off the door price!