Living the Life: Q & A with local choreographer Danielle Genest

Newport Contemporary Ballet premiering its new program Oct. 18-20

Newport Life talked with Newport Contemporary Ballet’s Artistic Director Danielle Genest for “Living the Life,” to discuss “Mosaic: Puzzles of Love and Connection.” The ballet will run October 18th-20th at The Elks.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself. How did you come to be in Newport? 

A: I grew up in Jamestown and trained at the Newport Academy of Ballet, which is now our school, The Academy at Newport Contemporary Ballet. I was fortunate to have opportunities to perform with our company as a student and then went on to dance professionally with Hartford Ballet and New York Theatre Ballet. After several years, I returned to this area and have had many roles in our organization – dancer, teacher, choreographer, rehearsal director, Junior Company Director, and Associate Artistic Director – before taking over as Artistic Director of Newport Contemporary Ballet in 2022. 

Q: What’s your dance background?

A: My training was predominantly in classical ballet, but I spent a lot of time studying other styles of dance as well – different modern techniques, contemporary, and jazz as well as some character dance and hip-hop. I believe it is so important for dancers to be well-versed and comfortable in a range of styles. Each one makes the other stronger. 

Q: How would you describe your creative process? 

A: My process usually starts in a very abstract form with an idea or an emotion. I then search for music that feels like it will take me further and let it direct my pathway to some degree. I create movement phrases to set on the dancers, creating a vocabulary for the piece, but then really enjoy seeing how things change and evolve as we work together in the studio. 

Q: How did you come up with Puzzles of Love and Connection? 

A: Our program, Mosaic, explores themes of love and connection with a focus on the unique and complex ways that our lives fit together – much like puzzles. I am bringing my piece Transport out of our rep as it explores the notion of a group of people being brought together by chance, finding themselves in a close space together and discovering what that closeness creates. I am also choreographing a new work for Mosaic. It is set to the Second Suite of Maurice Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe which is a love story in and of itself. This piece will premiere on our program here in Newport and then we will also perform it with the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra at their concert, Dancing the Night Away, a week later.   

Q: What’s it like performing in front of people, sharing what you love to do? 

A: It can be pretty special to see your work come to life on the stage. Sometimes it is hard to actually “see” the work anymore by the time you get into the theater because the creation and rehearsal process is so intense, but it is quite magical when everything comes together. It is an amazing thing to give your work over to dancers and know that you can trust them with it. It becomes something else and lives on in ways that are so very beautiful. 

Q: What do you hope people get out of watching your ballet?

A: I hope people are moved by what they see whether the work elicits some sort of emotional response, or it makes them think in a different way. I want people to have the freedom to experience the moment in their own way. There is no right or wrong in how something makes you feel.  

Q: What’s another current or upcoming project you can discuss?

A: We are also currently in rehearsals for our Newport Nutcracker at Rosecliff. This is a very special production that has become one of our company’s signature works. Involving our professional company and a cast of over 50 children from our Academy and other area dance schools, our Nutcracker gives audiences an up close and personal experience of this timeless holiday tradition. It is an exciting and joyful time of year! 

Q: What’s some advice you have for others trying to break out in the dance/choreography world?           

A: I think it is just so important to trust yourself and be true to yourself. Sometimes that is the hardest thing to do but it is crucial in any line of work… and in life in general.            

Q: What’s a fun memory from rehearsals? 

A: Well, I got to this one moment in my new piece and thought it would be neat to have four women lift one of the men. So, we gave it a try (at this big swell in the music) and they lifted him up, but he is so tall on his own that when they lifted him up it almost looked as if he went down in space. We all burst out laughing… and I quickly abandoned that idea! 

Q: What’s your favorite ballet to see or perform live? 

A: My favorite ballet is The Firebird. The story is so powerful and magical, and I absolutely love Stravinsky’s score. I have performed a couple different versions and was thankful to have the opportunity to choreograph my own Firebird for our company in 2023. 

Read more installments from our Living the Life series, spotlighting people and happenings around town.