MSP 172: Mimi Garrard

Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

The Journey of Creating Dance for Video with Mimi Garrard

Video dance work has become increasingly popular as technology has advanced, but not many dancers and choreographers have made it their primary medium of work. Today’s guest, Mimi Garrard, is the exception, having spent most of her extensive career focusing on video dance. In this episode of Movers & Shapers, we hear all about Mimi’s life, what led her to dance, her training under Alwin Nikolais, why she chose video dance, and what she loves about it. We delve into how she combines video and live dancing before Mimi expands on how technology has changed her work, the lighting system her husband designed for her, and some of her biggest influences throughout her career and life. Mimi feels that intuition has always been a driving force for her, and today, she tells us how that has served her work. We even discuss how AI might impact her work and what’s next for Mimi Garrard Dance Theatre. This is a fascinating episode filled with unique perspectives carved from Mimi’s special journey, so be sure to tune in!

Key Points From This Episode:

· An overview of Mimi’s life and what led her to dance.

· Her training and touring program with Alwin Nikolais and the pieces she did with him.

· Mimi’s move to the country, her outdoor work, and how madness is a theme of her work.

· What informed her decision to combine video with live dance and how it has been received.

· Who has influenced her work most throughout her career.

· What Alwin Nikolais was like (according to our guest!)

· How Mimi got hooked on video dance and how her work has evolved with technology.

· The lighting system her husband came up with for her dance videos.

· How Mimi’s intuition has served her throughout her career.

· The importance of learning and continuously working as a beginner.

· What’s next for Mimi and her curiosity about how AI will affect her work.

· Why she doesn’t attend screenings of her own work.

“If I don’t know what to do, it’s my intuition that tells me what to try next.” — Mimi Garrard

Mimi Garrard is an award-winning choreographer for the stage and for video.

For more on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

Follow for the lastest on Facebook and Instagram