10 Questions - Sonia Sabri
Published 22 June 2009
Sonia Sabri gets the 10 questions treatment as we ask about her influences, creativity and the best job she's ever had...
'''Artist''': Sonia Sabri
'''Role:''' Artistic Director, Choreographer, Dance artist.
'''Showcase Performance:''' Kathakbox (working title)
'''1. Where do you find inspiration for your work?'''
A piece of music, formation of trees, a good story from a book or someone, a creative advert,… in nearly anything. I have my better ideas for a work just before falling asleep!
'''2. What has been your most memorable performance?'''
There have been many in different phases of my career. I remember performing for the very first time at the age of 8; performing the first time for TV; performing in Pakistan in front of my teacher’s teacher who exclaimed in the middle of the performance: “Kathak has found Sonia….she is Kathak”. Performing in front the greatest living Kathak legend and receiving praise from him…the list is endless!
'''3. Where in the world would you most like to perform... and why?'''
I am lucky to say I have performed in many places around the world and yet there are still many remaining. The further and wider I can reach with my art, the more fulfilling it will be for me. My ongoing quest is to broaden and challenge preconceived ideas of what is possible in Kathak or Indian dance for that matter.
I aim to contribute a new aesthetic to the form and feel it should be shared with as many as possible. It is about the art of today as well as embracing the roots. I have yet to perform in Australia, Japan and South Africa.
'''4. Who/what has been the greatest influence on your creative output?'''
I work with a range of artists who will bring in new ideas, different ways of working etc, and that then becomes the influence to my work. I cannot highlight one as there have been many people who have inspired me and I hope I will meet more and more who can.
'''5. What has been the highlight of your career so far?'''
There have been many highlights. Most recently, I was commissioned to create a site specifc work. I originally said to the commissioners that I was not the right person to do it as I didn’t have the confidence to deliver the project. They insisted and believed in my work and my artistic capacity. I agreed. The project was a huge success which led to more invitations for site specific projects from other producers and now I’m on a roll.
It was interesting that I had others who believed in me as an artist and were willing to take the risk which fortunately exceeded theirs and many others expectations. I am grateful that I was given this opportunity and I was able to discover a new artistic dimension from within myself.
'''6. Who would you most like to work with...and why?'''
There are several great choreographers, musicians and visual artists I would like to work with because of their sheer talent and uniqueness. I’m worried one lifetime may not be enough to work with them all!
'''7. What is the best job you have ever had? '''
I am fortunate to say that I have been in the best job since the age of 14. I did try others, but the addiction I have to dance, to music, to creativity is incurable and has always lured me back to itself. I live to dance.
'''8. Where do you see yourself/your company in 5 years?'''
To be one of the most influential dance practitioners' and companies. To be creating interesting and high profile projects for mass audiences; collaborating with the world’s finest artists; gaining recognition for the contribution to the arts and to the public sector.
'''9. What makes you happiest about performing?'''
The feeling of being completely true to myself. The magic created on stage between artists and with audience (indescribable). To be appreciated by the audience (including promoters, participants, etc) always feels like a surge of new life is given.
'''10. What concerns you most about the state of the Performing Arts Sector in the UK?'''
How easily it can be impressed by sometimes sub-standard work. I have met some of the finest talents around and yet they don’t have the recognition because they don’t fit the criteria or the conditions of this sector or are unable to articulate their creative material into a language that can be understood by the drivers of the arts sector.
There are artists out there with not necessarily fantastic work, but they have the external resources such as PR, Marketing and producers to support and profile them and because of hype rather than substance are regarded as great artists. Everything that shines is not always gold.
