Home Page
Who We Are
What We Do
Join Us
Registry
Join the Registry
Resources & Partners
Keep in Touch
Return to the Registry
Interview: Ra-el Corsini August 17, 2005
1. How long have you been a resident in Siskiyou County?
In October it will be three years.
What brought you here?
The mountain mostly. I came out and visited two years before I moved here and the red carpet just rolled out. It was a magical trip where everything was provided constantly the whole time we were here. After a couple of years we decided to move here.
2. Can you give a short explanation of your specialty or your artistic medium?
What I love to do is educational performance art. I like to include my passions which are dance, musical theatre and child birth.
When I first came to Siskiyou County, Dorthea Joyce asked Tony and I to be in a performance of hers. It was so right because, Tony, Shasta and I could be on stage co-creating our expression and we did it with total ease and grace. I thought, 'Oh my God, why don't we do this more!' My creativity was drastically sparked. In the past I have worked and taught in conventional dance studios. This was an opportunity that I had to be totally real. We then created the Flying Lotus Production Ensemble with Tony doing an art opening and us doing some kind of a performance. It just got bigger and bigger. We started off with a cast of 10 and it increased to a cast of 35. How I incorporated the birthing, was by creating a show called "Birth Unveiled." We have performed it three times. This is an incredible celebration of the Goddess and provides education about all levels of birthing and parenting. So I was able to create educational performance art in this way and it worked.
3. How long have you been making art?
Since I was three. I started out with tap and ballet then moved into jazz.
4. Is art your full time career?
Yes.
5. What else do you do as a profession?
I am also a midwife's assistant.
6. How have you learned your art? Have you had any formal art education? If so, where, when and for how long?
I've learned my art primarily through 30 years of classes in new York and Los Angeles. I also went to the Long Beach City College Summer Arts Program. The rest I learned on the job. Every show has something to teach you!
7. Have you had any special mentors that have influenced you and your style?Sandy Bloomsburg, a New York City Rockette who was my main teacher. Sandy was trained by Luigi, a famous Jazz dancer. She was the embodiment of New York City musicals. I was in her junior company.
8. Can you talk a little about your experience as an artist in Siskiyou County? (In other words, what is unique about being an artist in this area?) (Pros and Cons) (economic, cultural, physical/geographic)
I definitely feel my experience as an artist in Mt. Shasta has been expanding. I have been able to do my form of alternative art in a way that I felt I was unable to do in Colorado. I feel supported by the alternative community here and the conventional community as well. Since I worked over at Nuria's dance academy, I made some really great connections with people that wouldn't normally come to see an event of mine. Because they have met me and recognize my heart, they are open to experiencing my events.
9. Do you feel like living in Siskiyou County has influenced your art? What aspects have you drawn inspiration from?
I have had the wonderful opportunity to work at COS, and with Joan Lucas, who has been very inspirational. Because of her experience, I can go to her and ask her questions and she openly and lovingly shares information with me. I took Stage Craft at COS which helps with overall stage design and set productions. I feel very blessed to have the COS theatre department so close.
My inspiratoin is drawn from the well of my creativity, and desire to share dance, art and music with our community at large.
10. Do you feel like dance/art in Siskiyou County has any prominent trends or patterns? If so, how do you see your own art in relation to these?
I definitely feel like it tends to be more classical or traditional dance. Sometimes it feels like my work isn't recognized as professional. I feel like that is not fair at all because the work I do is therapeutic and assisting massive amounts of people. Audience members and performers alike. I feel like it is extremely worthy and needs to be put on the same level as anything conventional or traditional or professional.
11. If you had to describe your style in a few words how would you do this? First 5 words that come to mind?…
Alternative, creative, therapeutic, expansive, outrageous, awakening and activating. I receive most everything that I do through the dreamtime. As a whole I feel like I give my students freedom and support to be who they are and I choreograph in a way that makes them look good no matter what because they are being real. I feel like I have been blessed with a good eye to shape movement. In shaping that movement, it creates this story that reveals celebration in the movement.
12. What is it about making art and the creative process that you find most interesting or are most passionate about?
Witnessing the growth of the students and the healing that takes place during the rehearsal process and the performance. In the therapeutic theatre that we do, we create rolls out of real life experiences. You get to move through it and be done. It completes the circle. When we have issues that come up in our lives they get stuck in our bodies, in our very structure. This sort of therapeutic movement shakes them loose.
13. Do you have one particularly interesting story about your adventures as an artist? The most unusual work you've done, the hardest work, the most interesting commission, celebrities you’ve worked with, your biggest success story or biggest failure, or your earliest memory of making art.
When I auditioned for the Queen Mary Ship, I had to learn a dance very quickly then perform it on stage in front of the choreographer, stage manager adn Director. LWhen I got up there, I remembered the first 8 counts and made up the rest, with tons of energy, a huge smile and outrageous movements. I ended with a big "taddah" and the panel was shocked. The choreographer's response was, "Wow, what you lack in memory, you sure make up in pizzazz!" That's been the story of my life. I've worked with tons of celbrities in the film and television industy, as well as the stage. My favorite though, and most memorable is Carol Burnett. Carol and Lucille Ball are my comedic idols.
14. Is there any way you would like to see your county arts organization better assist you?
I would love a list of grant writers, videographers, stagehands, etc. A resource list would be so helpful.
15. Because of current trends in funding for art programs, all SAC involvement is done through volunteers. Is there anything that the SAC is doing that interests you and that you would like to help us with in the future? Some options: art walk volunteer, teaching program, becoming a member…
All of it!!
