An interview with Tabitha Faes

Where did you grow up? What kind of kid were you? How did you begin as a dancer?
I spent most of my childhood growing up in Woodstock, IL. I was the quiet, shy kid around people I didn't know and loved to spend time either reading or adventuring outdoors. I wanted to try everything, be everything...until I rediscovered dance classes in high school. My family supported my dabbling in the performing arts until the time came to make decisions about the rest of my life and how I was going to support myself. Still determined to study dance in depth I took a semester off from college, moved to Chicago to study dance at Columbia College Chicago (among other places) and made money cocktail waitressing. Now I have my family's full support, and only needed to prove just how serious I was about this "dancing thing" in addition to finding ways to fund my studies. I graduated with honors from Columbia in 2004.

When was your first dance experience?
My first dance class experience was at the local dance studio as a child. I did not continue taking classes but in high school I rediscovered dance as a way to stay fit in the winter between swim season and track season. By then I was hooked and left competitive sports entirely.

What did you like most about dance?
What I liked most about dance was the thrill of moving my body in new, exciting ways and all the preparation designed to support and enhance movement development. I loved moving with precision and abandon, and the fantastic costumes didn't hurt either.

How hard is it to be a dancer in Chicago? Have you ever thought about going someplace else?
When I first arrived to Chicago my plans for the future were consumed with moving to Europe. Then slowly I discovered a growing dance community in Chicago that I wanted to be apart of. I still want to dance in different countries around the world, but now as a performing member of Breakbone DanceCo.

Why dance - why the arts - why not the Peace Corps?
Dancing makes me feel alive, feel the edges of my skin.

You perform with a company called Breakbone DanceCo. - what's up with that?
Being a part of Breakbone is about finding guts. For the first time I feel that it is quite alright to be angry and get my hidden aggressions out. It's about combating fear, honoring how you feel and finding the strength to act, to change.

So what's the catch - do you have to break a bone or something to get in? Do you have any injuries or broken bones form Breakbone yet?
No broken bones yet... I pulled my right shoulder from the second performance of Logotype v2.0 (2003), jammed right thumb from skiing in Switzerland before the first performance of ONE (2003) and a border-line knee injury from skiing in Colorado before the second performance of ONE (2005), incurred a horribly sore back from Heroine - A Woman's Tale from an unprecedented 3 week show in 2006.

What does being part of Breakbone mean to you right now?
Breakbone has become a second family to me, and there is no place I would rather be. I usually feel a need to float around and never am in one place for very long, but I have roots with Breakbone. I am continually encouraged and challenged to become a better dancer, performer, and person.

It's pretty aggressive and emotional movement - what's that like?
Sometimes I find it difficult to practice or perform aggressive and emotionally charged movement. There are days that I do not feel it or I just don't want to go there. On those days during the performance I try acting. Other times I cannot wait to get to rehearsal and push the heights I can reach moments before I slam into the floor. The challenge is irresistible. I was more nervous to jump higher and slam harder before Breakbone practiced on martial arts flooring. The floor provides just enough padding to soften landings and quell my fears. I have developed more physical strength and emotional depth and resiliency.

What do you do personally to train for the required physicality of the movement?
Outside of Breakbone rehearsals I work on all of the Pilates equipment and practice yoga. In my workouts I emphasize upper-body strength and integration.

Why Breakbone - why not another dance company?
Why Breakbone…Challenges what being alive means. It is not all perfect and does not need to be. Why Breakbone...Atalee Judy. She is inspiring as and artist and friend. I admire her dreams, vision, passion and ability to bring it all to fruition.

If you had to label yourself which one would you choose:
Adventurer.
"Not everyone who wanders is lost" ~anonymous