Interview: Olivier Wevers
Olivier Wevers is the embodiment of a classically trained artist. As a Principal dancer with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Olivier has left his own indelible mark of perfection upon each role he’s portrayed. He is not only a seasoned artist, but a prolific and highly acclaimed choreographer, receiving numerous awards and accolades for his impressive work and unique style.
Earlier this year, Olivier embarked on an exciting adventure of epic proportion. In collaboration with some of the most highly respected dancers from the Pacific Northwest, Olivier launched Whim W’him, a company designed to “provide a platform, centered around choreography and dance, for artists to explore their craft though innovation and collaboration.” (Quote Whim Whim.org)
Recently, Mr. Wevers took time out of his hectic schedule to answer a few questions from Vala Dancewear’s media liaison, Denise Opper. In part one of our series, Mr. Wevers reveals the inspiration behind Whim W’him….
Whim W'Him
Vala: First of all, I want to thank you, Olivier, for taking the time to do this. We all truly appreciate it.
Olivier: Oh, absolutely. I appreciate it as well.
Vala: Let’s begin by discussing the inspiration behind your new company. What made you decide to go ahead and branch out on your own?
Olivier: Well, I have been choreographing for 7-8 years and, over the last few years, I have been getting a lot of commissions. Which have all been really great, but I’ve also been getting frustrated with how it all works. You know, you only get a certain amount of time with a certain amount of dancers; sometimes they even give you the dancers. Then usually there’s no budget, it’s always as cheap as you can make it happen, how much product you can produce, and it has to be successful. The final product has to be successful; they’re not really interested in the process behind it. It just has to be something that will be enjoyable for the audience.
Also, when you make pieces on different companies like that, you have to kind of set it to their style and their certain “voice”. So you have to watch what you do, and make sure it is really going to fit that company. It’s all been great and I love creating new works, and love working on these kinds of projects, but I’ve been kind of frustrated in my own artistic development, and I wanted to kind of “explore” more. You know, have more time to rehearse, have dancers that I really admire, and that are really going to push me. Then I wanted to not have to tell anybody, since this is my company, why I’m doing this or that, you know? And if I fail, I fail. I’m the only one responsible. But then that only means that I’m going to have to work harder to get the audience to come back. I don’t have to prove anything to anybody, and I don’t have to fit anybody’s voice. I can really do what I want to do.
Olivier Wevers
Vala: That is an excellent reason and answer! You’re right; when you’re working for someone else you have to make it fit their style, their voice. But sometimes you just don’t have enough time to really get to know their voice, and yet you still have to make that product happen—yesterday.
Olivier: Right, absolutely! It happens so many times where I’m really crushed for time and I don’t have time to rehearse, so I finish it the day before the show, and they don’t have time to really sink their teeth in. And it’s choreography that I don’t really get the chance to explore. It’s like I just throw it at them, like—”there it is, you have it, go do it”. It’s been great that way but now I’m really looking forward to having more time to explore. Actually with Whim W’him, there was a piece I choreographed in June. I videotaped it and watched it; I wasn’t happy with what I ended up with so I just scrapped it completely. But, really, that’s only a luxury I can afford by running this company and doing this with the time that I have.
Stay tuned for Part Two of our interview with Olivier Wevers where he candidly reveals how his life has changed since the birth of Whim W’him! You won’t want to miss it!
If you are in the Pacific Northwest, you can see Whim W’Him at On the Boards for The A.W.A.R.D. show, Thursday, December 10.
By Denise Opper
Media Relations: Vala Dancewear/Class Act Tutu
Tags: Olivier Wevers, Olivier Wevers Interview, On the Boards, Whim W'him
