Holla Jazz Founding Artistic Director Natasha Powell will celebrate important milestones and prepare for the world premiere of her upcoming show on stage at the Winchester Street Theatre.

 In partnership with DanceWorks and Toronto Dance Theatre, Holla Jazz will celebrate ten years with The Room Upstairs, an ode to the impact of John Coltrane, one of the most influential musicians in jazz history. The production will also mark the occasion as a fitting tribute this year, in what would have been Coltrane’s 100th birthday.

 Choreographed by Powell, Room will ruminate on the inspirational beauty of Coltrane’s creative process, honed in a special room upstairs in his family home.

Powell is quite proud of HOLLA’s success in the Canadian dance canon. While she’s held different positions in different kinds of jobs, the experience of making art with body and with others has been deeply satisfying:

“I recognize that what we do is bigger than me… the art forms I practice come from a lineage of folks that made incredible contributions to the world under circumstances that were much more than I experienced right now.”

Her company’s name comes from her unique practices in hip hop, house, and jazz: 

“HOLLA JAZZ is a meeting place for those dance styles to play and work with one another. I wanted to be true to my personal experience and the kinds of artists I was interested in collaborating with.”

A recent press release I received about the show states Room’s choreography will ruminate on the inspirational beauty of Coltrane’s creative process through the vocabulary of black vernacular dances, while set to a live score. The interesting part – it’s all honed in a special room in the upstairs of Coltrane’s family home.

The release also speaks about how Coltrane prioritizes spiritual practice and deeply collaborative relationships with others.  For dance artists, Powell states that context is to be considered.  If an artist creates something to be shared, they are often collaborating with artists in different departments to present an idea. 

She also adds: “Even if you’re not making something to be shared publicly, the act of collaboration can exist in practice and communal environments as a means for connection and growth.”

Natasha speaks about Stephen Nachmanovich’s Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art. As a dance artist herself, she values the richness that comes from working with other artists. Natasha also connects to Stephen’s idea about movement as a form of meditation. If a dancer is focused and deeply connected in the moment, the dance can feel like an act of disappearing.

Our email conversation then turned to the upcoming The Room Upstairs, beginning April 29. Powell has been inspired to create work in specific locations. It inspired her to explore what creative spaces mean to the artist and to those they care about. While she hears many things in Coltrane’s music – freedom, quirkiness, swing, coolness, playfulness, sadness and beauty – she learned more about Coltrane and his family:

“It led me to be inspired [in that] he specifically moved [his family] to a new home where he could focus on music-making and being close to them.  [The creation of Room] inspired me to create a work in a space that felt cozy, creative and playful.”

Powell also shares the performance with dancers Raoul Wilke, Caroline “Lady C” Fraser, Hollywood Jade, and Miha Matevzic. The show’s musicians include Tom Richards, Thompson Egbo-Egbo, Eric West, Scott Hunter, Colleen Allen and Rebecca Hennessey.  Natasha has nothing but absolute praise for these artists and says they inspire her to be a better artist every day. She hopes audiences will experience the same feeling.

Those audience members with an educational and/or training background in music, jazz, and dance, I’m sure the performances will speak volumes. To those who don’t have a background in these art forms, Natasha hopes that these audience members will walk away with a feeling:

“Whether they felt angry, sad, or annoyed at it all, at least they walked away feeling something, while also learning that this music and dance can come together to create an experience.”

As we concluded our email conversation, I asked Natasha if she had any sage words of wisdom or advice for new dance artists attending The Room Upstairs. She does:

“It’s okay for your dreams and ideas to change. What you felt a few years ago may look different than where you land, and that’s okay. Be mindful of who you surround yourself with. You will become a product of your environment.”

In partnership with Dance Works and Toronto Dance Theatre, Holla Jazz presents the world premiere of The Room Upstairs, April 29 – May 2 at 7:30 pm at the Winchester Street Theatre, 80 Winchester Street, Toronto. 

To learn more about HOLLA JAZZ: www.hollajazz.com.

Headshot Credit: Kevin Jones