We had the good fortune of connecting with Lisa Townsend and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
If I am curious, learning, weaving ideas together, making connections, sparking joy and uplifting creativity and confidence in others, if I’m being challenged to get out of my comfort zone – I keep going! If I am met with resistance and struggling to find a common language, I don’t give up – instead, I surrender to the moment and open myself up to new perspectives and possibilities. I have always loved these two Beckett quotes: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” & “Dance first. Think later. It’s the natural order!”

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Throughout all of my artistic practices, I constantly return to and am invigorated by an exploration of one’s core relationship with the body. I believe the body is at the center of all human communication and connection. It is a constant and endlessly fulfilling goal of mine to help others rediscover and strengthen their relationship with their bodies, whether through dance, somatic movement, intimacy direction or theater. It brings me joy and inspiration to help others grow comfortable and in touch with their physicality and to discover new modalities of creative expression, communication and confidence through it. I think our artistic, psychological and emotional inclinations are all tethered to the physical forms we inhabit, and they can be channeled through our relationship with our physical selves. It all comes back to the body: It is this work that I am incredibly passionate about and strive to learn from in each of the fields I practice.

Over the years I have collaborated with many different people of all ages, and I’ve come to understand the universal importance of fostering spaces where everyone feels respected, encouraged and heard.

The movement stories I choose to work on are often challenging, intensely physical, and can deal with physical, psychological, or emotional trauma. My material examines the human capacity for love and tenderness as well as for ferocity or brutality. Opposites can exist simultaneously. They should not be shied away from, and I think closely contemplating and exploring them brings us closer to the truth.

To implement the work I do, I’ve learned to facilitate and maintain artistic and healing environments with a focus on clear communication, mutual consent, trust, safety and joy. I incorporate these elements into my private somatic movement teaching as well as my collaborative artistic productions in dance, theater and film. These elements in action make it possible for people to bring their entire selves to an artistic process or new learning experience.

Devised work is most compelling to me because it demands of its creators a willingness to remain present, thoughtful, and open to dynamic collaboration. It is a medium that returns me constantly to the present moment. I love the collaborative nature of physical storytelling, and with every new project I strive to understand new and unfamiliar life experiences, and to grow through the discovery and exploration of new perspectives.

Lessons I’ve learned along the way:
1. Accept the messiness of an imperfect life.
2. Listen, and be present in each and every moment.
3. We always have the capacity to reinvent ourselves.
4. Everything changes. Embrace the unknown.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Walking up and down Clement St. in S.F., start at All Star Donuts for coffee and a twist, then walk down to the 6th Ave Aquarium to look at the fabulous tropical fish, then head back up Clement to the 4 Star Theater for a retro film matinee.

In Marin, explore a Tennessee Valley trail, take a Modern Yoga class with Annie Parr @ Roco’s Dance & Fitness, head to Punjab Burrito for lunch, if it’s summer check out a Shakespearience performance behind the library (youth performance run by Kitty Thompson) then head to Marin Theater Company for an evening show.

In West Marin, for a delicious pastry & coffee go to The Brickmaiden in Pt Reyes Station, then head out to the Lighthouse or Limantour Beach. On the way back, stop into the Inverness Park Market for an amazing pulled pork sandwich (my son’s favorite.)

In the East Bay, check out Shotgun Players or Berkeley Rep for a live performance, or go to BAMPFA to see what’s up in the museum & playing at the repertory movie theater, then Ippuku on Center St. for sushi.

For watching current films, the Kabuki Theater in Japantown. After the film get noodles and visit Kinokuniya Bookstore.
To relax and unwind and feel your body center itself, go to the Kabuki Spa.

Movement Classes (there are soooo many, here are a tiny few)
ODC Dance Commons – Hot Spot Classes with a visiting Dance Artist, Salsa with Gabriel Romero & Victoria Ruskovoloshina, or Nol Simonse’s evening class!
Dance Mission – a Taiko or West African Drumming Class
Finnish Hall – the West Coast Dance Improv Fest
Joe Goode Annex – Gaga Dance with James Graham

After a class in the mission, check out El Tepa on Folsom & 18th

See what’s up at A.C.T.’s Strand Theater., the Magic Theatre, ODC’s State of Play, or Keys Jazz Bistro on Broadway.

Coit Tower. Never grows old, especially at sunset.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I give credit and recognition to my mom & dad who were performing and teaching artists. They persevered as creative souls, following their hearts and dreams, no matter the obstacles. My first modern dance teacher Lori Bryhni, my mentor for “how to be in the world,” Melinda Niemi, Somatic teachers Marie Jose-Blom, Jean Claude West, Jeremy Nelson, Irene Dowd and Jess Curtis. CalArts and IDC Professionals. My husband and collaborator Piro Patton and our kids Lucian & Xanthe (who are my biggest fans). All of the students & performing artists I’ve worked with these many years!

Sources of Inspiration & Learning include; Books by Susan Sontag, adrienne maree brown, and Virginia Wolf. Filmmakers: Claire Denis, Alice Rohrwacher, Maya Deren and Wong Kar Wai. Choreographers: Pina Bausch, Joanna Haigood, DV8 Physical Theater & Christy Funsch. Performing artists Giulietta Masina (Notte di Cabiria) and Buster Keaton. Photography by Helen Levitt, Lee Friedlander and Carrie Mae Weems. Poets: Sam Shepard and Patti Smith.

Website: www.lisatownsend,com

Instagram: lisaftownsend

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.townsend.3914

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DanceFracas

Other: https://vimeo.com/user5040686

Image Credits
Photographers; Piro Patton (2,3,4,5,6,8) Robbie Sweeny (1, 7) David Di Silva (1)

1. Lisa Townsend
2. Hattie Pohlman, Lisa Townsend, AriDy Nox, Cassandra Hunter, Kaiy Watts
3. A.C.T. MFA
4. Lucian Patton, Lisa Townsend
5. LTCo/dancefracas
6. BCAST
7. Lisa Townsend, Erik K. Raymond Lee
8. LTCo/dancefracas

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