Meet our artist of the week, Dancer Sevin Ceviker! Sevin and FJK Dance will perform with MusicTalks in a one night only special collaboration at our Shabbat Soiree with FJK Dance on Nov 4th at New York Live Arts!
We sat down with Sevin to get to know her a little bit better and this is what we learned:
MT: Tell us about your cultural background growing up. How did it influence your art? How much does it still?
Sevin: I grew up in Istanbul, Turkey, which has a lot of history of many different cultures. As a young child whether one realizes it or not, we become influenced by the many differences surrounding us, and being a natural born art lover, I became curious to dig deep. Since I can remember, I have always wanted to dance. I remember growing up watching operas, symphonies, and ballets, and dancing along to the music. What I have experienced in my childhood made me who I am, and it still continues to excite me. Every time I visit Istanbul, I get inspired over again. It is like an energy charger fills me up and allows me to continue as new.
MT: How would you define the role that music plays in your form of expression?
Sevin: When I dance, I feel the music in my veins; to have the opportunity to dance to live music is like ecstasy. The two art forms complete and compliment one another, and I sometimes feel that one can’t exists without the other. Whether you are a dancer or a musician you, the creation of sound and movement are physically intertwined. To me, music and dance are the perfect marriage.
MT: What do you find yourself drawing inspiration from these days?
Sevin: I have a very creative and dreamy mind. When I am in the midst of creation I sometimes feel like my mind is running ahead of me, full of ideas, and the process can be quite exhausting. Nonetheless, it is worth every second. Everything I see and feel inspires me towards the next creative moment: When I am working on a specific role, I can already foresee future movement that I can draw from it. From the book I read to the person sitting next to me on the subway, all can relate to what I am working on. It is mostly my everyday life that supplies ideas, possibilities and potential for what I am currently working on, and what I amy be doing next.
MT: Who were some of the most influential figures throughout your career?
Sevin: All artists are extremely valuable and influential in any other artist’s life in one way or another. My childhood idol was Dame Margot Fontaine and I always have a special place in my heart for her. When growing up, I was told that I would never be a dancer and that I should give up and move on. My wonderful teachers Tac Paluch and Christoph Paluch urged me not to listen to others but to do what I must. I continued pursuing my passion and I have travelled the world doing what I love. They were therefor, largely the ones that influenced me and made believe who I am. I admire all artists who create genuinely, those are the ones I draw my inspiration from.
MT: What should the audience expect from the performance on Friday?
Sevin: The audience should be ready to be immersed in our world through a great collaboration of spectacular artists. I believe our world, the world of dance and music and passion, is where the magic happens, and the audience will be able to see it up close and personal.
