Meet Maida:

What are you most curious about artistically at the moment? Improvisation.
It is my number one dance love, it is what I always want to be doing, and what I like to watch most in a performance context. I consistently appreciate and revel in improvisation’s undeniable elements of self discipline, self expression, and focus.

What are three absolute must haves in the studio (physical, emotional and/or spiritual)?
When I am facilitating a space, it goes in this particular order:
1. The Triliquid Set Up: 1 Drink for Hydration, 1 Drink for Fun, and 1 Drink for Zen/Health. For example: Water, Chocolate Milk, Nettle Tea
2. A highly curated playlist (music is one of the most helpful ways to drop in)
3. My purple massage ball

What’s living rent free in your head creatively right now?
Constructing intricate group improvisations
Blurring my transitions until they become a mystery
How joy and authenticity can be part of the performance Improvisation (always)

What does inclusivity in dance spaces look and feel like to you?
I feel most included in spaces where:
We always check in and check out, letting everyone articulate how they are
There are always options for how to engage and move Moments to rest, eat, write and stretch are integrated into the session
Where movement heavily revolves around sensations and ideas, as opposed to a forced product

One place or thing you’re looking forward to exploring in Lutruwita/Tasmania?
Finding new bodies of water! Recommendations welcome.

What’s your comfort watch/listen at the moment?
Listen: Djo, Abbie Chatfield’s It’s A Lot Podcast, Parcels, and The Improvisors Podcast hosted by Kevin and Neil
Watch: Outlander, Heartbreak High, Buffy the Vampire Slayer & Andor

Tell me about your earliest dance memory…
One of my earliest performances was dancing to a song from the Lilo and Stitch Soundtrack (I think I was five) and it was my very important job to lead everyone around a prop palm tree on the stage, follow-the-leader style, whilst we waved our arms about. I remember feeling super duper important and that I wanted everyone to diligently execute it. I also loved cartwheels as a child, and cartwheeled at every spare chance.

When you’re not dancing, how do you spend your time?
Baking gluten free snacks, playing Stardew Valley, walking, cooking comfort dinners, churning through the constant dance admin, and being in bed by 9:30

Sweating it out in the studio or opening night adrenaline?
Sweating it OUT!

If a Stompin participant takes just one thing from being part of a Stompin class or project, what would you most hope for it to be?
It’s insanely hard to choose one but, a sense of authenticity. I would wish for them to feel like they were being their authentic selves and expressing authentically, and for them to feel like I as a leader came from an authentic place. Honesty, authenticity and curiosity become fertile ground for creation.