Olsi Gjeci
Live, Create and Dance
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Olsi - choreographer and dancer who has studied philosophy. When did you realize you liked dancing and how has philosophy affected your choreographies? I was 14 when I realized I liked to dance. Until then I loved playing soccer and I was planning a professional career as a soccer player. My dad, Guri Gjeci, who's been a dancer/choreographer for 40 plus years now, created his folk ensemble in our city, Vlore. They were touring throughout some of the most exciting places in Europe. |
photo: courtesy of the artist |
I couldn't resist traveling in different countries in Europe, so I joined them still with hopes of continuing soccer of course. Slowly but steadily I got hooked on dance and started enjoying it more and more. I made a lot of new friends and also started to understand, appreciate and enjoy the rich tradition of my country.
I liked my philosophy class in high school for no specific reason as I recall now-it just intrigued me whatever I was reading. It seemed like it was connected to nothing in my daily life, but somehow it attracted me. Later in college I majored in philosophy, and now I understand some of the why-s behind my instinctive appreciation of it.
My dances are influenced by philosophy in the same degree as my thought process and my life in its entirety. Philosophy makes you question more, but most importantly it teaches you how to ask important questions.
Dance and music are inseparable most of the time, Do you agree? What is your favorite music to dance to or choreograph? What are your favorite dance genres?
In some dance styles Dance and Music are inseparable from each other; in others not necessarily so.
In the post modern era, dance, a school of thought interpreted dance as having the power to exist on its own, as a language in its own right, in no need of a 'translator' or accompaniment!
My favorite musician has been Murcof. He is my go to musician for a lot of my dances. I'm fond of folk dances in general, from all over the world, but also of post modern dance, and can't leave out the mesmerizing world of baroque dance.
Who are the composers and choreographers with a great influence on your work?
Murcof is one of the musicians whose music I felt I could use extensively in my choreographic experimentations. I also have to mention Jiri Kylian, as the choreographer whose works attracted me a lot during my college years. More recently I have discovered the immense, beautiful and spicy world of Trisha Brown; certainly learning and getting influenced by her thought and process. I cannot leave out Vicky Shick, Carlos Fittante and Catherine Turocy for their intelligence, humanity, and artistic beauty in their compositional works. They are all big influences on my own work.
And of course my dad, for influencing me continuously in the art of choreography.
Since 5 years now, you are the Artistic Director & Choreographer of Sublime Dance Company (SDC). What is your vision of SDC?
Yes, Sublime Dance Company celebrates its 5th anniversary this year. It aims to explore, question, and build upon the essential desire that constantly draws us to movement - the most perspicuous state of being deeply 'known' to us. We explore ourselves as embryos, producers, and accumulators of sensuousness through movement. The company’s main goal is to create refined, excellent and innovative works of art.
I liked my philosophy class in high school for no specific reason as I recall now-it just intrigued me whatever I was reading. It seemed like it was connected to nothing in my daily life, but somehow it attracted me. Later in college I majored in philosophy, and now I understand some of the why-s behind my instinctive appreciation of it.
My dances are influenced by philosophy in the same degree as my thought process and my life in its entirety. Philosophy makes you question more, but most importantly it teaches you how to ask important questions.
Dance and music are inseparable most of the time, Do you agree? What is your favorite music to dance to or choreograph? What are your favorite dance genres?
In some dance styles Dance and Music are inseparable from each other; in others not necessarily so.
In the post modern era, dance, a school of thought interpreted dance as having the power to exist on its own, as a language in its own right, in no need of a 'translator' or accompaniment!
My favorite musician has been Murcof. He is my go to musician for a lot of my dances. I'm fond of folk dances in general, from all over the world, but also of post modern dance, and can't leave out the mesmerizing world of baroque dance.
Who are the composers and choreographers with a great influence on your work?
Murcof is one of the musicians whose music I felt I could use extensively in my choreographic experimentations. I also have to mention Jiri Kylian, as the choreographer whose works attracted me a lot during my college years. More recently I have discovered the immense, beautiful and spicy world of Trisha Brown; certainly learning and getting influenced by her thought and process. I cannot leave out Vicky Shick, Carlos Fittante and Catherine Turocy for their intelligence, humanity, and artistic beauty in their compositional works. They are all big influences on my own work.
And of course my dad, for influencing me continuously in the art of choreography.
Since 5 years now, you are the Artistic Director & Choreographer of Sublime Dance Company (SDC). What is your vision of SDC?
Yes, Sublime Dance Company celebrates its 5th anniversary this year. It aims to explore, question, and build upon the essential desire that constantly draws us to movement - the most perspicuous state of being deeply 'known' to us. We explore ourselves as embryos, producers, and accumulators of sensuousness through movement. The company’s main goal is to create refined, excellent and innovative works of art.
SUBLIME- 5 YEARS! from Sublime Dance Company on Vimeo.
You are constantly travelling the world with numerous dance projects. What are your beloved places where you perform and feel at home whenever you visit? Why?
I actually like them all. Never had any bad feelings toward a single place. I love performing in Germany. But then France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Lithuania, Turkey, Australia, Hong Kong and more. In all places I I've felt great, and I look forward to go back and perform again.
Now you are based in NYC. How would you describe the dance scene you are part of in the Big Apple? Favorite performance venues? Best vibe?
The dance scene in NYC is immense. There are hundreds of different dance styles practiced and so many shows to go see. Some of the best companies in the world call NYC their home. Some of the most important names in the history of modern dance lived or still live here. It certainly is one of the most exciting places offering great variety and abundant quality. Like everything else in the city, dance also moves fast. The rate with which works are being created and shown is fantastic. Hundreds of festivals throughout the year. Companies from all over the world come to perform here. And you can go on and on about what qualities make this city an exciting one for dance. I like to see shows at Danspace (St Marks Church), Joyce Theater, BAM, NYLA, The Kitchen etc.
Based on your accumulation of dance experiences around the world, do you agree that there is plenty of cut throat competition behind the scenes of this elegant, stylish art form? What is your ‘shake it off’ advice when it comes to facing tough critics and skeptics?
Yes there is much more competition in dance because of the fact that there are not that many jobs in the field, and definitely very few long term or full time jobs. Almost everything nowadays is project based. I don't know about the critics actually, but definitely being passionate and enjoying what you do in everything, will take care of everything else, even the most hard core resistance.
Any recommendations for people who do not generally attend dance performances? Why should they start now?
Well, I truly believe that if there is any kind of truth about ourselves, truths that through millennia intelligent human beings have tried to establish, it should be movement in the larger sense, our most perspicuous reality. Is there a more reliable 'truth' than our own bodies?! Certainly what gets postulated as our reality comes into existence through this 'unknown' and infinite mechanism that involves us, our bodies, and it's quantum like processes, but again - that's movement, a language, or process, or life itself that is not necessarily abstracted or separated from any other 'language' or 'expression' we know. Instead it makes possible, it constitutes the very fabric of our existence for all other things to come into being.
Or I can simply say that movement in all forms can be very entertaining, a catalyst for your imagination, a life changing feast for your senses, your consciousness, your perception of things that surround you.
Where & when can we see Olsi Gjeci performing in the upcoming months?
With Trisha Brown Dance Company we will be in Israel from June 7th to 14th, and will also perform at the River to River Festival in NYC, on June 21st.
Part of Aston Magna Music Festival I will perform Baroque Dance in Boston, on June 24th at Brandeis University; on June 25th at Bard College; and at Simon’s Rock College in Great Barrington, MA on June 26th.
And with Sublime Dance Company we will be in Berlin - Germany from July 1st to 4th, and in Paris - France from July 5th to 7th.
See you in any of our performances!