Interview with 'Holly' (May 8, 2014)

As part of my field research, I am conducting a few interviews with the general public in order to have a vox pop view of dance.  I conducted the first of these interviews with a friend of mine who has chosen to remain anonymous.

Interview with 'Holly'

General Public View of Dance

Thursday May 8, 2014

18.45

Southbank Centre, London

Pre-Interview Set Questions:

·         Name

·         Age       

·         Location

·         Profession

·         Are you trained in any style of dance? If so, what was the period of training, e.g. 12 years in jazz, one off workshop in salsa

·         Are you involved any kind of dance activity in your daily life? e.g. Zumba classes,  clubbing, work in the dance industry, watch tv shows on dance.

·         In the entire arts spectrum which includes music, visual art, literature, where does dance rank for you? Please explain why this is the case?

·         Do you agree that dance has always been a part of human society? Why? Why not? If yes, what role do you think dance has played historically?

·         What role do you think dance plays now in our society, if any?

·         If you had to become active in any type of dance, what type would you choose and why?

·         Do you think that they type of dancing I am researching, the type of dancing that anyone can do and which is usually done at social events, is actually a style of dancing? Why? Why not?

·         When you have participated in the above dancing, what affects the way you move?

·         Would you like to dance more in your daily life? Why? Why not?

                                                       Interview with 'Holly'

Transcript

Note:

'Holly' is a female in her mid-30s. She is based in London and works in corporate recruitment as an Operations Director. She has chosen to remain anonymous.

LS:

So you ready?

H:
Yes.

LS:
Ok, so I’m just interviewing my friend here about her general views of dance and what she thinks about social dancing. So can you just tell me your age?

H:
36.

LS:
And you live in London?

H:
Yes

LS:
And your profession?

H:
Operations Director.

LS:
So first off, are you trained in any style of dance?

H:
No.

LS:
At the moment, or in your life, have you been involved in any dance activity? Do you like take Zumba classes, or any kind of workshops in the past? Anything really that might even be vaguely related dance.

H:
When I was 13 I did dance for a year. That was about it.

LS:
What kind of dance was that?

H:
I think it was a mix of different kinds of, I don’t know, show dancing type things so little routines from Mary Poppins through to. I think, we did one flamenco routine.

LS:
Was this at school?

H:
Yeah, at school.

LS:
And was this something you chose to do or you had to do?

H:
I chose to do it. It was an after school thing.

LS:
And what made you stop after the year?

H:
Um, I can’t remember actually. I think either the teacher stopped. I did it with friends so it was mainly a social thing.

LS:
Oh ok. And did you enjoy it whilst you did it?

H:

Yeah, good fun, good fun.

LS:
So in terms of the arts spectrum, say music or film blah blah blah, you know, for you, where does dance sit on the spectrum as a priority? Where would you rate it in terms of an art form?

H:
Me personally?

LS:
Yes you personally.

H:

Not that high if I’m being honest. For me visual things are more, they attract me more so I guess painting, photography that kind of thing appeals and then it comes to music and dance.

LS:

And can you explain why music and dance are lesser priorities on the spectrum?

H:

I think I’m just naturally better at art.

LS:

By better do you mean you like it more or you can understand it more?

H:
I think I can relate to it more. I actually did arts A- level at school so I used to paint and kind of dabbled in a bit of silly photography so it just naturally appeals to me more.

LS:

Cool. Now what do you think about the statement that dance has always been a part of human society?

H:

I kind of agree with that.

LS:

Why do you think that?

H:

Well I think we, I feel that you sort of have this rhythm inside you so that when you hear music, you’re kind of inclined to move with it.

LS:

Yep.

H:

Actually recently at the weddings I went to, even watching people of different generations through to someone in their sort of 70s and 80s, it was quite interesting observing people who I didn’t think would dance and how they responded to music. So I saw my husband’s father dance for the first time which was quite amusing.

LS:

And what do you think prompted him to dance?

H:
I think it was combination of, it was a happy occasion. Alcohol played a part in it if I’m really honest and the fact that actually we kind of forced him out to dance a little bit. But that helped to break down the barriers and his inhibitions and then he started to dance on his own.

LS:
And what was your, you know, you’d said that you’ve never seen him dance before, so what was your view of it when you did see him dance?

H:
I think like, my jaw hit the ground. And then we all wanted to grab the cameras.  But it was also a good moment as well as he’d actually loosened up as he’s normally quite uptight so it was nice to see that.

LS:

Yep, yep. Ok. So you do agree that dance is a part of human society and who we are. So it’s a bit of a broad question, so just answer it however you feel appropriate. What role do you think dance has played historically in human society?

H:
Woooah!

LS:
I know.

H:

Wow.

LS:
I know, I just realised. Quite a big question.

H:           
Hmmm (pause)

LS:         
Like you do you think it’s celebratory or do you think it’s um, like a ritual? That it used to be more of a ritual than it is? Or mating thing? Or all those things?

H:
I think it’s all those things. In different cultures from my travel and things, you just see. It’s almost using your body to express yourself. Sometimes in certain cultures I don’t think they speak as much or express themselves verbally as much and so you see it expressed in movement instead.

LS:         

Do you think, just picking up from something you said earlier about human beings having a rhythm within us and dance being the expression of that rhythm to music.  So what do you think about if there is no music? Do you think dance is still innate within us? Or do you think music and dance go hand in hand?

H:
I personally always associate both together but there probably is forms of movement without music but personally when I dance at a social level, I find it a lot easier [with music]

LS:
As most of us do. Ok cool. So ok, what role do you think dance plays in our society now?  For you personally, it might not play a role at all um, but right now in 2014 what kind of role, in London, what kind of role does dance have? And once again I know that is a very broad question so maybe bring it back down to your own life or that of your peers?

H:
It kind of fits for me into the arts and social dancing really.  So for me, if I go to the theatre and see dance, it’s more kind of, what’s the word. It’s quite meditative and quite like to sit back and relax and watch the beautiful things going on in front of me. Whereas if I’m there actually socially dancing, it’s an ability to just let myself go and an expression of freedom and I quite like to dance with my eyes closed for instance, so I don’t know what people are doing around me.

LS:
So almost like the way you are describing it, it’s therapeutic on different levels. Like one is like a leisure thing and an appreciation of the form by watching and the other, for yourself is like a self-expression where you just kind of relax.

H:

Yeah.

LS:
Ok, so you know that kind of dance I’m looking at the moment for this dissertation which is kind of like how people dance socially and the kind of stuff that they do.  Do you think that actually that is dancing, that style of dancing?  Like what your father in law did on the dance floor at the wedding, do you actually think that’s a style of dance or do you think…cause you know we have formalised styles of dance like ballet and jazz and I’m trying to put my finger on, what this, I’m just calling it social dancing for now, it’s so personal to everyone, do you thinks it’s actual dancing, say compared to something like jazz or tap or ballet or whatever?

H:

Yeah I do. I think it’s snobbish to dismiss as not a form of dancing because actually it is.  For me it’s about expressing yourself moving to something, you know, and making yourself happy so yeah absolutely.  Just because it’s bad or not tap doesn’t mean it’s not a form of dance.

LS:

So when you do dance socially, the times you have, did you dance at the wedding? Ok so when you dance socially, what are some of the factors that affect how you dance? What affects the way you move on the dance floor?

H:

I think the situation around me. For instance if I was at a wedding, I would behave myself slightly differently depending on how many relatives are around etc versus being at a nightclub. Alcohol influences and I think loosens your inhibitions. My footwear cause with high shoes I feel sexier, but actually after a point I give up if it hurts so I prefer to dance flat so I can carry on for longer which is more fun. Yeah and I think and the people around me, my own friends but also sometimes the crowd.

LS:

Just in terms of the way they’re dancing or their attitude?

H:
A bit of everything.

LS:
So the general atmosphere and the vibe?

H:
Again one of the weddings we went to recently, it was lots of my husband’s young, sort of cousins and they were almost too cool for school so we decided to get the dance floor going by doing the running man and really silly things to help them loosen up so they could join us.

LS:

And did it work?

H:
Yeah, yeah. Everyone was in a circle whooping.

LS:
In a circle? So people were in a circle at the wedding?

H:
Yeah it ended up being, I think at first there were just a few people and then it gradually, it got so crowded. [There was] about fifty of them and then it became a circle and then a dance off.

LS:
So people went into the middle?

H:
Yeah.

LS:
I can’t remember what you said about the circle on my survey? What do you think about that? Do you think it is something people innately tend to do or do you disagree with it that it is something that happens?

H:
I personally tend to orchestrate it.

LS:

And why do you do that?

H:

A)  – it deflects from myself sometimes and its quite good to sort of, to stir a bit of trouble. I can get almost, because then people that are uncomfortable and just want to sway and bop around, they can do so around the perimeter and those who are exhibitionists can get in the middle and you know, you almost encourage the shy ones to come out, even for three seconds. I think it helps to bond the group sometimes. That was my intention at the wedding.

LS:

This is my last written down question. At the moment would you like to dance more in our daily life, and if so, what would be your ideal kind of scenarios for accessing dance? What would you do?

H:

I wouldn’t mind actually just going clubbing a bit more but socially, my friends don’t do that anymore.

LS:

Why’s that?

H:

Umm. I think we’re all growing up and getting old and having babies.

LS:

I think this is a common trend. It’s a fact but why do you think people go out dancing more [I meant less] when they are getting older or having children?

H:

I think it’s just prioritising time for it. It’s associated as a young thing and I have vivid memories when I was in my late teens, early twenties in a club and looking at someone at gasp thirty and thinking what are they doing here? And I think that that’s still there. So people almost think they need to grow up and not do that anymore but I think we should still do that.

LS:

Do you think it’s also a bit about the venues that are available in like, the majority are orientated towards the twenties, early thirties.  I bring this up because I was reading today about this new dance thing, well it’s not that new. It started in Sweden and it’s called Lunchbeats.

H:

Ok.

LS:

So what it is, is that companies go in and they have these one hour, one hour only dance club scenarios in a work place.

H:

Really?

LS:

And what they do is encourage the workers rather than to sit at lunch and to eat lunch at their desk to go into this club environment. They get a free lunch and I think one drink each and they just dance for an hour and then they go back to their work, they go back to their desks. And it’s actually been very popular in places like, urban cities because people see it as a way to have a work out, a way to just get away from the desk thing and you know people who might not have the time to go clubbing have a little taste of that in their work day. What do you think of that?

H:

I think for me, the biggest thing would be overcoming...

LS:

Dancing with your boss?

H:

You’re dancing with your boss, you know. Someone in my position, even at work parties I tend to kind of hold myself back.

LS:

Cause you’re still in work mode?

H:

Yeah I’m thinking the hour before I’m having a really serious meeting and then the next hour I’m suddenly whoop whoop. So that would be a little bit bizarre. But actually the concept of it actually really appeals to me. Perhaps in the creative industries, like media, I can see that really working but yeah.

LS:

So you think it depends on the industry type?

H:

Yeah probably. I’m just visualising some of the people at my work and I’m like no.

LS:

They might surprise you?

H:

They might do.

LS:

OK one last question, to get your thoughts about something as well, following this other thing I went to called No Lights, No Lycra. I don’t know if you’ve heard of it before?

H:

No.

LS:

Again it’s something that’s swept the world so to speak. It started in Australia. The concept is that you go to this venue and it’s for one hour only and it’s completely, pretty much, completely dark. They turn on the music and you are there with a bunch of strangers and you dance in the dark for an hour. The idea being that you dance however you want. You don’t feel inhibited cause you can’t see anyone pretty much. What do you think of something like that?

H:

I actually quite like the concept of that.

LS:

And why’s that?

H:

I think its cause there’s an escape element to it. No-one gives a __ about what you look like. You just get yourself in there and just boogie away.

LS:

In theory, do you think you would feel less inhibited or self-conscious in that environment?

H:

I think the first session, you probably feel more inhibited because it’s unfamiliar to you but I think once you kind of challenge yourself and get yourself in there you’ll probably be alright cause everyone else is in the same situation. I think actually that one sounds quite appealing.

LS:

Ok well you can come with me to the next one if you want.

H:

OK.

LS:

Alright, so do you have anything else you want to say about dancing at all?

H:

Aah, no.

LS:

Well thank you for coming out.