bbodance Patron Series: Martin James

Martin James

Please provide a short introduction about yourself and your journey with dance.

I grew up in New Zealand and trained through the New Zealand School of Dance. I was then with the Royal New Zealand Ballet for six years, followed by dancing with English National Ballet in London. At the end of the war I was in Berlin, I remember when the wall fell, and spent twelve years with the Royal Danish Ballet. It has been a rollercoaster ride of a career!

I am now living in Sydney; my children are in Melbourne – it is awesome to be so close to them. I am working and helping where I can in dance; I love to meet with Gillian (fellow bbodance Patron), we both have a passionate approach to work. I enjoy any work involving artistry in ballet and dance.

Please tell us about the highlights of your dance journey.

I danced with Natalia Makarova in a pas de deux called Meditation, choreographed by Kevin Haigen; we danced this piece nine times and it has not been danced by anyone else since. We performed at the Paris Opera and in London, we had a huge amount of fun working together in each performance. All dancers work hard and we love what we do, there is no one who is more of a highlight to work with than someone else.

What has been the most memorable moment of your journey with dance?

I premiered with Ekaterina Maximova in Onegin, in London. It was her first pas de deux performance and part way through she looked at me blankly, she had no idea what she was doing! I had to pick her up and carry the piece through. It was amazing to figure this out together live on stage.

In Berlin, the wall had just fallen and we had a performance of Giselle coming up; we only had two days to figure out the staging of the show. I worked closely with Alessandra Ferri who was a gracious ballerina and really knew how to conduct herself on and off stage.

Why is dance important to you?

It is a privilege to dance. It can be a very tough environment to be in, we can talk about it passionately but in reality it is a very big job. We are some of the most devoted and physically capable people because we started when we were so young. Many dancers have grown up with dance, so we have become highly qualified in the sense that we have just spent so many years doing it.

Where do you find inspiration, both in dance and in life?

I am inspired by music. I grew up as a pianist, so music has always been in my life. Since COVID-19 painting has also been a huge part of my life, it has essentially saved me. I have paintings all over the house, not necessarily hung up but just around and in progress. I love using my body to create things like music and artwork, you can always be thinking about what to create next and inspire yourself to keep going. Sometimes you may have had a bad day but if you focus on what you are heading for then you will be alright, good things are always on their way.

If you could share some advice with young dancers, what would it be?

You must have authenticity, courage and determination without any animosity. We must understand that the hard work is fun; do not be too serious or the joy is lost.

Please share your thoughts about being a Patron for bbodance.

It is wonderful to be a Patron. I am keen to get more involved with the organisation and help wherever I can.

Can you describe bbodance in 3 words?

Progressive. Inclusive. Authentic.

What are your hopes for the future of dance?

We have a lot of very technically able dancers but what we have lost is artistry – the meaning and reason why we are doing the moves. Why are we doing class every day, what is it for? This feeling is being lost. I would prefer to see artistry than ten turns or a high arabesque. When we see a special dancer they have something unique or different, we do not need to see tricks. Musicality and personality can help develop artistry and feeling within a dancer.

Do you have any advice for dance teachers?

Education is very important in every area of life, it is crucial that dance is within your body and that you can express it innately. A lot of people train to a high level in dance but this does not automatically mean they can teach. My advice is that if you wish to become a teacher it is about integrity and the way you monitor and preserve your dancers as they progress. Do you keep in touch or cut them off when they leave your tuition? I always keep in touch with my dancers, still to this day.

Why is it important for dance teachers to train and gain a qualification in dance teaching?

Since the pandemic things have changed radically for everyone in the world. Teachers and dancers went through a very difficult time together, not being able to dance in person with one another or travel to teach. The world has changed; now is the perfect time to train and learn new strategies. Teach students how to be dancers and humans, adapting to the world as they grow. Dance can frame children for the rest of their lives and teachers are responsible for this shaping. Children do not need to become professional dancers but it opens them up to enjoyment and physicality. They can make new friends, feel the excitement of new ballet shoes and costumes. It is a beautiful thing, there is nothing like it.