Spotlight - Natasha Torres-Garner

“My parents claim that they put me in dance when I was seven because I couldn’t sit still at the dinner table. They decided I should find an outlet,” laughs Torres-Garner.

That outlet turned into a long-standing relationship with Winnipeg’s School of Contemporary Dancers. As a child and teenager, Torres-Garner sacrificed time with friends in order to dance; however, she was determined to succeed in the competitive world of dance.

Torres-Garner continued her studies into her post-secondary years, completing the Contemporary Dancers’ Senior Professional Program affiliated with the University of Winnipeg, receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in 2002. Upon graduation, Torres-Garner became a company member of Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers (WCD), a position she remained in for six years. During her time with WCD, Torres had the opportunity to travel across Canada and perform the works of several well-known Canadian choreographers. 

“I had the luxury of contracts and opportunities in other cities, mostly in Montreal. It gave me my fill of adventure and testing other places out.” 

Torres-Garner had aspirations beyond the world of performance–she wanted to try her hand at choreography. Although dancing in a larger city may seem to be any dancer’s dream, Torres- Garner insists that being in a smaller pond results in bigger opportunities.

“In a smaller city, there are more resources. There’s a more supportive community of people to round up to make things happen.” 

One of those opportunities came in the form of the Young Lungs Dance Exchange (YLDE). Founded in 2003, the YLDE is a network of artists committed to creating and contributing to the arts scene in Winnipeg. Torres-Garner is now the organization director. All of the members have the ability to design what the company does through an exchange of skills and resources.

“In larger dance communities, there’s constant production of creators and new artists. In Winnipeg, we’re more sensitive to who’s coming up to the top. There’s more tentative growth in Winnipeg; there’s not as much mutation and shift. Things move slower here.”

The YLDE is trying to shake things up in the world of contemporary dance. The organization is there to serve people trying their hand at choreography for the first time. Because it can be difficult to receive funding for arts projects, Torres-Garner says that the collective exists to make things work when there’s less money to go around. The goal is to serve a new generation of dancers instead of the same circle, while supporting the growth of performers and choreographers. 

“I feel as though as a group, we’ve made an investment in the future. Before, it was very difficult for people to make first steps into choreography. There were only a handful of people established and repopulating the landscape in the dance community.”

Through the YLDE, Torres-Garner has had the opportunity to choreograph for the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir, the Junior Professional Program of the School of Contemporary Dancers, as well as a variety of independent projects.

Torres-Garner has always been interested in creating a piece combining strong dance technique, physical performers and theatrical performers. One of her most memorable moments was when she worked with Tom Stroud, the former artistic director of Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers.

“His work was based on improvisation, and it did wonderful things for me to feel so creative as a performer. It made me feel like less of a tool in the art form, and more as a creator.

Torres-Garner hopes to have more of her time dedicated to choreography, and to have the confidence to take on full productions. Finding consistent work as a dancer can be difficult, which is why she continues to create her own works and dance projects. Despite the lack of consistent employment, Torres-Garner believes that Winnipeg is still a vibrant arts community. 

“Those who come to shows are extremely dedicated to the art form. As artists, we’re very connected to the theatre and the arts, and this allows for any one artist to feel connected to make contact with others very easily.”

As the dance world continues to evolve, Torres-Garner hopes to transition along with it. The new mother doesn’t see herself having enough of dance anytime soon and plans on always being involved with dance in some way or another. 

“I feel most honest when I’m dancing. It is such a full body experience; it feels as though nothing can stand in the way of how I feel. I can’t pretend– it’s an honest art form. It’s a fleeting thing, always alive and changing. It’s never the same.”