It is no secret I am a big fan of Nederlands Dans Theater. I have seen Aurélie on stage before I met her. The latest was in 2012 in Zürich, where we both participated in the Step Tanz Festival together and even shared the same hotel. I remember because the hotel breakfast was amazing! What can I say – I am easy to please. I was there with “Poppea//Poppea” by Christian Spuck and Aurélie was there with “6000 Miles Away.” I had a night off while they were performing in Zurich, so I decided to go and see the show. I was totally blown away by the whole performance, but, once again, Aurélie left a big impression. Her dancing is so smooth and natural – every step looks good on her. Not to mention she is so beautiful…inside and out. On the street, she turns heads…on stage, her presence is so strong, it is hard to look at anyone else. I am a fan…to say the least.

When I first joined the Basel Ballet, one of the first pieces I danced was “27’52” by Jiri Kylian. This was the same piece I saw Aurélie perform in Zürich, so I was not surprised when Aurélie came to set the piece along with her dance partner Lukas Timulak. After an intense audition, I was lucky to be selected AND to get the chance to work with Aurélie in the studio. She is gentle, but direct. She knows her stuff. Aurélie is such a beautiful mover, it was a pleasure just to watch her demonstrate. As a repetitor, she was great! I appreciated her deep connection to the movement and the piece. She gives so much of her self. Working with her was a very inspiring experience.

Aurélie Cayla was born in 1980 in Paris, France. She studied at the Conservatoire (CNSM) in Lyon, France from 1996-1999. From 1999 to 2002, Aurélie danced with Aalto Ballett Theater in Essen, Germany. She then joined Nederlands Dans Theater 2 and in 2005, was invited to join NDT 1, the main company, where she performed works by Hans Van Manen, William Forsythe, Mats Ek, and created works by Crystal Pite, Paul Lightfoot/Sol Leon, and Wayne Mac Gregor, Tero Saarinen and many more, until July 2010. Aurélie was also influential in Kylian’s creations of “Sleepless”, “Tar and Feathers”, “Vanishing Twins”, and “Memoires d’Oubliettes”.

Presently, Aurélie is dancing as a freelance artist and stages works by Jiri Kylian. Aurélie is also part of the group OFF Projects, created in 2012 around dance works and installations of Israeli choreographer-musician Amos Ben Tal, as dancer and group coordinator. Aurélie has studied Cultural Mediation-Art Management and graduated in September 2012. She also holds a dance teacher diploma from the Centre National de la Danse in Paris.

I am happy to finally present Aurélie’s interview with you all! Thank you Aurélie for your inspiration! AND thank you for believing in this series!

 


 When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you always want to do what you’re doing now?

First I wanted to be a nurse, as my mother.. but it didn’t last long…Then I wanted to dance but had no ambition to do it really until I was told when I was 15 I should maybe start to enter a school with dance classes everyday.


 Aurélie’s Favorite Things


 

Favorite Things to eat?

Chocolate- no doubts!

Favorite Books?

Letter to a young Poet – Rainer Maria Rilke. If on a winter’night, a traveller – Italo Calvino

Favorite Movies?

Inglorious Bastards- Quentin Tarantino

Favorite Dance Piece or Show/Musical or both?

Not favorite, but the last amazing work I saw was Vortex Temporum- Ann Teresa de Keersmaker


 I like dancers who…

Keep being interested in worlds far beyond the dance world


 I am afraid of…

Myself sometimes


A dance piece should…

Not only be about BEING a dance piece!!!!


 Something you like to do other your current job?

Floating …


 One of the happiest moments in your life?

When I can let go.


 One of your most unusual or coolest experiences?

1 month ago, joining a folk dance festival in the middle of the Swedish country side where sun never went down at night …neither music nor dance! An intense, warm feeling of joy!


 One of the most embarrassing moments in your professional career?

Visit to the physio the day of the audition for NDT2!!! No comments!


 Who has been the most influential person/people in your life? or Career? and why?

Lydie Guelpa, teacher of „functional analysis of dance movement“ in Conservatoire in Lyon. She opened my eyes on how movement can also become natural by going back to extremely simple coordination .. not easy to understand that when you are 16…A woman full of simplicity and generosity! And of course, Jiri Kylian, for the incredible feelings I reached while creating, performing and staging his works!


One of the hardest things about your job?

As a dancer…probably the pain when it gets to not being able to move…As a ballet master: not knowing enough of the personality of dancers in front of you, because of being there for only 3 weeks to stage a piece.


 Do you have any goals you still wish to achieve?

A lot, but I start to accept that it might take time to get there.


 A question you want to know the answer to?

I prefer not to know!


 Dear aspiring artists,

Keep questioning what YOU like or dislike and try to know why… Then, you start constructing who you are with opened eyes!


Photo Journal


 

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Vanishing-Twin_chor._Jiri-Kylian_-photo_Joris-Jan-Bos_dance_Aurelie-Cayla_Lukas-Timulak

From the piece Vanishing Twin by Jiri Kylian photo: ©Joris Jan Bos

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From the piece Fortune cookies- Jiri Kylian – photo: ©Joris Jan Bos

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Photo from the piece AMOR by Cora Bos Croese – Photographer ©Joris Jan Bos

memoires d'oubliettes

From the piece Memoires d’oubliettes by Jiri Kylian photo: ©Jason Akira Somma

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From “The New Work” with Milena Twiehaus

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Photo by: Milena Twiehaus

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Goddess Nikke adjusting her sandal 410 BC in Greece – Athena Nikke temple– Acropolis Athens


To find out more information on Aurélie, check out www.off-projects.com and www.facebook.com/offprojects. The collective creates exciting multi-disciplinary performances, events and installations and has already presented its works all over The Netherlands as well as in festivals in France and Germany.


Have you worked with Aurélie? Have you seen her perform? Help me say thank you by sharing your stories in the comments below. Thank YOU for reading!


 

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Main photo by : Michael Slobodian


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