We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lisa LaMarre. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lisa below.
Hi Lisa, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
The seeking of purpose seems in ways an unachievable quest if we were to compare ourselves to others, but I feel there is a certain definition of success that comes from the trusting the self. I can only speak about my personal experience, but for me I knew purpose way back in my childhood creating dances and new moves all day. On the front lawn, at the grocery store, at my friend’s house, in the woods, every space was a location for creation because I carried my dance body and imagination everywhere I went. The highlight is the moment of realization when you make that intuitive, authentic soul a lifestyle and career. Once you’ve embraces the knowing of self, then it’s building opportunities to share that passion with others that brings purpose.
My purpose is to share the joy of dance with as many people as possible. It’s what drives and fuels me. It’s what exhausts me and drains me too, but there is no stopping. Witnessing people of all ages and abilities express themselves through the art of dance is a beautiful thing. Dance is such a powerful tool of non-verbal communication, social interaction, and community building. We all need more of that in our lives.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My career as a teaching artist is continually morphing and shifting. Currently, I’m Assistant Professor of Teaching at Wayne State University (WSU), in Detroit Michigan which gives me great joy, especially as an alum of the WSU Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance, Teaching Artistry, Master of Arts (MA) program. To share art making and self-discovery with such dedicated, creative, and reflective people fuels me every day. The WSU Company One touring dance ensemble which I direct, is currently creating a 50min show titled “The Mixing Bowl” that speaks about the coming together of different identities, cultures, and influences, and provides opportunities for the dance majors to work with guest artists in addition to presenting their own choreographic voices. The show primers at the Hilberry Gateway Stage Dec 1 & 2, 2023 included with Midtown Detroit’s Noel Night event. Then we go on tour to K12+ schools in the new year.
Tickets at https://theatreanddance.wayne.edu/companyone
When not at the university, I can be found performing with my company LaMarre and Dancers or with Michigan Access Arts where dance is the vehicle for learning and development inside special education. As a master teaching artist with the organization, I work to develop dance education curriculum to support curricular, social, and behavior goals for people with disabilities.
Bio: Lisa R. LaMarre Wilmot, M.A. Dance Teaching Artistry, Wayne State University (2018), B.A. Dance, Presidential Scholar, Western Michigan University (2005), enriches dialogs between the complex identities of artist, researcher, and teacher. Her expertise includes dance company artistic direction, integrated and special education dance art education curriculum, and dance for the community. Her work has been presented at conferences nationally and in Canada, and her research on “The Role of Teaching Artists in Postsecondary Education…” can be found in the Journal of Dance Education.
LaMarre continues to test the boundaries of performance-based responsive artwork working to bring dance into the realm of everyday life. Artwork created with LaMarre and Dancers has focused on the utility of the human body in response to sites and sounds of the community. She has created over 100 original live art performances, 6 dance films, and was a 2018 Kresge LiveArts Panelist. Her work has been produced for Wayne State University, Grand Valley State University, Oakland University, ArtPrize7, Defibrillator Gallery, DDCdances, People Dancing, Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, Detroit Contemporary, Detroit Institute of Arts, N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art, Detroit Music Hall, Sidewalk Detroit, ArtPeers, Multikulti, What You Will Festival, WNUR, Hatch Arts, Pubic Pool, Chicago Calling, Rapid Pulse, Access Arts, and numerous public and private spaces nationally. Lisa was a seed grant recipient for ArtPrize 7 premiering “They Were Displaced…And Again” curated by res345 at The Rumsey Street Project. Her community engagements also include work for Michigan Arts Access (formally VSA Michigan) where she shares dance making with special education classrooms.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
When reflecting on my personal journey, I’m reminded of nature and nurture. Following and trusting your likes and expanding knowledge around given talents, is only a small part of how I’ve landing in this moment. I truly believe it’s the people who nurture, teach, and support me that make the dream possible.
I’d thank family and friends, the studio family, and the Detroit art community. It’s impossible to list all the people who impact and influence me. I’m forever grateful for my husband, my parents, family, and close friend who keep me balanced. It’s my teachers, colleagues, and students who have shaped and continue to shift my pedagogy and ethical choices. It’s the Detroit artist network, the dancers, musicians, and art collaborators that continue to inspire me. My advice to emerging artists is to continue building relationships and to continue approaching each day with an open mind and open heart.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did was sign me up for dance classes at The Dance Centre. Thank you mom and dad for recognizing my love for dance at such a young age and allowing it to grow. Thank you for dancing me to sleep at night and diving me back and forth to the studio.
Image Credits
LaMarre and Dancers James Cornish Light Opera John Sobczak Ryan David Cranbrook Art Museum New Lab Detroit Detroit Institute of Arts
