Interview with emerging dance artist and choreographer Kaelynn Shinkaruk. By Nelle Lee

Though you might not guess it upon first glance, emerging artist Kaelynn Shinkaruk is poised for action and more importantly dance. Her sweet and calm nature is reassuring as we discuss her burgeoning career and her aspirations for the future. Currently Shinkaruk is studying dance and communications at Simon Fraser University but began, as many dancers do, with ballet at the tender age of 3. Later widening her scope to include many different styles including tap, modern, contemporary, jazz, pointe, and some street style dancing such as Hip-Hop.

What moment(s) stand out as significant in your early training?

Dance competitions were a huge part of my dancing career and it allowed me to understand principles such as what you put in is what you get out, work ethic, and what it means to be both an athlete and a performer.

Any other significant moments in your dance career you would like to share?

I was offered a position to enter the trainee program [at the Joffrey School], which I did- at the time I was 16 years old. Being so young, I learned about the true meaning of independence and pursuing your dreams. It was eye opening to see such dedicated instructors sharing their passion for teaching after having a successful dance career themselves.

The Joffrey School is a well-respected training facility in the dance industry 

located in New York City with countless successful graduates, 

it was established in 1953 by Robert Joffrey. 

You can find more information about the trainee program here: 
https://www.joffreyballetschool.com/programs/trainee-programs/

Recently you have begun creating more work as a choreographer, what is your process like?

I’m interested in working with multiple disciplines, bringing other factors in to my choreographic work and taking the time to go through all of the details that creates an overall piece. Working with outside sources is something else I am currently exploring, in my recent work Sublime I worked with text written by a dance writer. My work is also heavily influenced by my interest in communications which means I approach my work from a more academic perspective to create content. I think by being in university I have learned this method which is unlike a more intuitive approach one might learn in other less academically driven programs.

What themes are you working with right now, where do you get your inspiration?

It’s a mix of themes I feel personally connected to and others I would like to connect to through exploration and research. One being vulnerability and overcoming circumstance. The other, the sublime, something greater than us as human beings. I believe the sublime is a mindset, what you believe! You need to recognize that you have a relationship with the greater world around you.

What attracted you to communications?

I found an interest in communications through dance because everyone has a unique body with a unique movement vocabulary, which come from a diverse background. Similarly, with communications, individuals have a language in which they communicate their thoughts within their surroundings, there are social cues or traditions. What is unique to dance and communications is the idea of live performances, as well and site-specific work. With technology one can reach larger audiences to get a message across to others and connect globally. When examining the transactional model of communications, dance is a prime example of how communication is a two-way interaction between the sender and the receiver, meaning the dancer and their audience. Dance is a means of communication, not just a means of entertainment, which can share political, societal or environmental messages.

What would it be like to connect communications with dance?

Dance is one method of communication in which you can add text to your piece, such as a voice over as demonstrated in my piece Sublime. Another way of communicating through dance is with silence, allowing your movement to be the words or you can dance alongside music that contrasts your movement.

What would be a dream project for you?

It’s a diverse range of project I’d like to work on but most of them would explore the intersection between communications and dance. Largely focusing on different forms of communication and the impact of the message on the viewer. For example, social media, sight-specific work, live performance and recorded performance as well as performances in gallery and or museum space.

And finally, what is integral to your work as an artist?

Being true to yourself. It can be hard in this industry because the work is so subjective and yet brings such a diverse audience, there are a lot of opinions, so it can be difficult to stay true to your values and morals. Diving deep into the work is also import, investing in all the details and being thoughtful about your choices, knowing they will all inevitably impact one another.