Artist Spotlight - Mariana Fernandez

Left to Right: Joyce Islas, Mariana Fernandez

Throughout the years we’ve met incredible people within the dance film community. We have decided to do an interview series to spotlight these individuals!

Mariana Fernandez is a Co-Director and Dancer based out of Mexico. Mariana’s film “Y’U, had things to do in the other world” co-created with Joyce Islas was an official selection of our 2020 film fest.

How did you get into dance filmmaking?

Our first project as a collective was our screen dance Y'U. We had this idea randomly- based on a story with a topic in common- as we were interested in creating visual material mixed with performing arts but related to it. We thought that there were many images that we could experiment deeper onscreen than onstage in the case of this video, for example, different locations in nature, the usage of the materials combined with the landscapes, and our bodies interacting with both.

What inspires you as an artist?

Being an artist allows you to be a channel of communication through a language of symbols that can be at the same time communicated and understood by other people, as it goes directly to the unconscious, even if it has a rational topic. We have the power to manifest with total freedom of form and content.

What draws you to dance filmmaking?

We believe that there are so many possibilities on creating choreographic filmmaking that take dance into diverse viewpoints, as the camera can interact and also choreograph differently than dancing on stage. You can get more intimacy with closeups and rhythm games with edition, as well as interaction with landscapes, giving symbolic meaning to the body immersed in the space and communicating with each other.

How does location play a role in your films?

Locations play a super important role, they talk by themselves and give a stamp on the work. They will also bring inspiration for movement and creativity of how to place the body in space. They talk about time, situation and give a specific style to the work.

Choreography or Improvisation. What do you prefer and why?

We normally use improvisation over choreography, it works better for us as partners. We think that it gives us the freedom to listen and react to the other person's proposal and opens a field of freedom inside the agreements we make to create.

What is your favorite quote?

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. - Albert Einstein

What do you want the world to know about your art?

Our artwork was born from a necessity and erasing all the negative patterns. that we carry on from our past relatives. It speaks about our roots, how that is related to our unconscious behaviors and how these same roots also link us between each other and to mother earth. Roots can be ancestral wisdom and can also be toxic programs.

You can learn more about Mariana and Joyce’s company at colectiva9gramos.com

Instagram @mari.anafernandezp @clandestinejoyce @nueve9gramos

Images provided by Mariana Fernandez