Kayla Sylte: Artist Statement

As a contemporary dance artist, I like to bring out basic human functions of my joints, limbs, and muscles into my work and my dancing. My work starts from something simple and grows to be more complex as it progresses. It is being able to find new approaches to connect and transfer my movements into dance. I allow myself to contrast whole body movements to only focusing on isolated part of the body. I believe that small details from feeling and emotion can spark a train of ideas and thoughts into my mind. I use imagery a lot and begin my processes by filling my imagination. I close my eyes and begin to connect with one idea. Asking myself what does it feel or smell like? How big is it? Can I move it? What colour is it? My initial ideas come from small and pedestrian movements. By taking these concepts, I can take this small idea and expand it into something with colour, depth, and perspective. I know dance feels natural in my body so I remind myself to enjoy the movement. The joy that dance brings inspires me to produce more creative and unique content in my style and choreography. I produce my kinaesthetic discoveries in my work. I know finding aesthetic pleasure in human movement is one thing I strive to do while I am not only dancing but creating. As an artist, I strive to keep evolving and challenging my style of dance. As a choreographer, I challenge myself to keep pushing outside of my comfort zone and to stop leading towards what I am used to doing. By taking new emotions, inspirations, and feelings, I am able to accomplish these goals. 

   Biography

Kayla Sylte is dance artist and choreographer living and working in Vancouver. She is currently in her fourth year studying dance at Simon Fraser University in the School for Contemporary Arts. She has an interest in sharing her knowledge and experiences in dance to others. Kayla is a dance educator for young children and young adults. By practicing different techniques, methods, and styles of dance she can better educate herself and others. From taking part in workshops and intensives, she has expanded her movement vocabulary to create something that is uniquely her own. She also enjoys composition and choreography which allows her be expressive with the help from other dancers. Kayla has travelled around Vancouver with a group of young dancers competing many of her works throughout the years. Kayla’s goal is to take risks for herself, her dancing, and her choreography to keep pushing the boundaries and creating fresh ideas for the future.