"There's no scale to greatness" An Interview with Roya Pishvaei by Nicole Dreher

Roya Pishvaei is a contemporary dance artist and commercial dance teacher based in Vancouver, BC.  She is currently training in the Simon Fraser University contemporary dance program, and teaching drop in classes and private lessons at Dance Downtown.

Photographer: Mikela Vuorensivu

Shot at Crescent beach while filming choreography for Rep 2020 (CA327)

When asked about the moment she knew dance was her future, she responded: 

When I started to take more of a leadership role; choreographing and instructing classes.  That’s when I decided I wanted to be a teacher, because I enjoy doing this and I like to choreograph.  I also wanted to be a performer because I love being on stage and am always so excited to learn.  Around mid high school I decided this is what I want to do and it only solidified more in senior year.

Performing and teaching are both equal parts to her being.  She describes teaching open level beginner classes as “a choreographic challenge… I have to cater the steps to a certain level, which is fun”.  Though if she had to choose, she “would choose performing until [it] isn’t an option anymore”. 

The contemporary dance she studies and the commercial street styles she teaches are both equal parts to her.  When asked which ones she preferred she responded:

I used to look more in my element dancing street because it was what I was more comfortable in, but now I feel like I’ve grown more into my contemporary shell.  I love creating contemporary work and I love that there’s no boundaries.  I can’t pick!  They both complete me.

How has studying dance in university changed the way you work?

I used to be so doubtful of myself, to the point where I would make a piece, and people would tell me it’s good, but I wouldn’t be able to post it on social media because I thought it wasn’t good enough.  Studying dance has changed the surface of what dance looks like to me.  It’s made me appreciate the art, the history, and so many other cool aspects.  I’ve dug deeper into what dance truly means to me, and left the superficial part of it out.  Now, I’m honestly just dancing for myself.  I’m not embarrassed to post something.  I’m not shy to show my work and have someone share their honest opinion.  I’m finding the true confidence and peace within myself as a dancer, knowing that there’s no timeline or that there’s no scale to greatness.  Everyone works at their own pace, and there’s really no way to measure talent.  Dance is beyond technical ability.

Photographer Samm Maeson. Performing in Ursula Blanchard’s Piece “Smudge” in Ascension 2019

As a performer, creator and teacher yourself, what do you think the role of the artist is in society?

The artist has the role to inspire, and remind people that life doesn’t have to be boring.  You should, and can, have hobbies.  You can do other things, and there’s no right or wrong.  It’s just about expressing, inspiring, and spreading knowledge… So an artist’s role in society is to help remind people that it’s okay to make mistakes, it’s okay to be happy, and learn new things.  I think everyone should be a little bit creative. 

How do you see yourself fulfilling the role of the artist you described?

I see myself taking my experiences and learnings throughout my time at post secondary and applying it into any institution that I end up working or creating in.  Since I see myself going into secondary school education, I really want to intertwine other disciplines into dance and make art a fun and educational experience.

So where do you see your practice going after graduation?  How will you be the artist in society you want to be?

I would love to create a collective with a bunch of my peers, and other dancers that I knew growing up who quit dance because they felt there was no place for them in the dance world.  They had the same fear that I did: the toxic fears that are drilled into us by many studios.  I want to create a nice, friendly, great space where we perform, create, teach and grow together.

I also want to do the PDP program and go into teaching post secondary.  Maybe in the future I can complete my Masters and become a professor.  I just want to create, teach, and perform for as long as I can.  I want to be an artist in society that not only spreads knowledge but invites others to learn about everything dance has to offer. 

To see a project Roya and I have done together, click here.