Artist Interview

Biography
Alicia Ward is a Calgary dancer/actor whos passion lies in all forms art and its
ability to touch and change individuals. In 2013 Alicia graduated from the
university of Calgarys drama department with distinction in collaborative arts.
She wishes to use art collaboratively (specifically drama and dance) to make
people think about their effect on others. Currently while teaching dance around
the city Alicia works at swallow-a-bicycle theatre and trains as part of decidedly
jazz dance works professional training program.
Goal
My goal of this interview is to explore how participation in the arts has made
Alicia into the artist she is today, and how I can use this in my life.
Questions
1. At what age did you start dancing? And what disciplines did you partake
in? How did you get into it?
2. When did you find out that you were also interested in drama?
3. When you quit dancing how do you think that affected you as a person?
4. What went into your choice to pursue the fine arts in university? Was there
ever a questioning about not doing any thing more academic?
5. Who do you find inspiration in, do you have any arts specific mentors?
6. What is something you wish you knew before you started dancing and
acting professionally
7. What does being an artist mean to you? Do you think of your self as an
artist?
8. What would you say is your goal as an artist, what do wish to achieve?
9. What are some of the shows/ programs that you are working on currently?
10. How do these projects link with your personal growth and view point of
being an artist?
11. Have you found the linking drama and dance together has allowed you to
grow progressively as an artist, that they lend knowledge to each other?
12. Is there a specific part of dance or drama that you enjoy most?
Interview
Date: January 21, 2016
Time: 1:30pm
Location: good earth

Reflection
By interviewing Alicia I was able to learn more about who I want to be as an
artist. Alicia uses her knowledge as an artist to empower others and learn more
about her self. Her goal as an artist is to enlighten people about how much of
them selves is needed to be a functioning member of society. On a daily basis I
find Alicia to be inspiring and surprising, the piece of information that really
impacted me was how she interprets being an artist. Alicia believes that to be an
artist you have to be able to use your craft to say something, or invoke an
emotion, but this cannot just be about the good aspects of life. As an artist it is
our responsibility to also show the bad and bad in life, to give others the
viewpoint we hold. Along with her definition of being an artist she also believes
that any one can be an artist, and that the definition of what art is does not have
to be bound by conventional thinking. Any thing can be art. I thought this was
really beautiful. I believe that this has changed my perspective about who I am as
an artist and what I want to do with my knowledge and capabilities. I want to be
able to transfer my knowledge to others while doing something I love. I agree
with Alicia when she said that just performing at the end of the year recital was
not what called her to the art form, expressing this to me it has taught me that it
is okay to want to deviate from what you know and to pursue new things. I can I
apply this best to university, it will be an experience that Is entirely new and
untouched but I need to be able to dive in; knowing this makes me feel better. I
was surprised by how Alicia believes that taking time away from dance allowed
her to become a better artist and grow to love the art form more. I believe that if I

were to stop my learning as an artist that I would miss it, and dwell on what could
have been. I dont think I would respond in the same way Alicia did, but I respect
that is what helped her bloom into an experienced artist. In total Alicia impacted
me to be more open and taught me how to use dance to explore my self and
others.