We were lucky to catch up with Liza Deck recently and have shared our conversation below.

Liza, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I have been a dancer all of my life and I am pleased that working in the dance world as a teacher, performer and choreographer has been my sole profession as an adult. One of the aspects of the work that challenges and delights me the most is collaborating with other artists.
The Enigma Series was conceived of by Jimmy Deck and remains one of the most meaningful projects on which I have worked. This series showed me the true meaning of partnership, took advantage of my aesthetics and pushed me to a new level of innovation. It was a true collaboration between a Visual Artist, Jimmy Deck, a Theatre Artist, Larry VanDeventer and a Choreographer, then Liza Fritz. In this series, we created avant garde performance pieces that we ourselves would enjoy watching. We planned extensively together, took inspirational trips, and influenced one another with our interpretations of one another’s ideas. It was frustrating at times as we did not have any hierarchy, but the rewards were undeniable. I have worked as the sole creative and director, I have worked as a hired creative, and I have worked as the lead in a creative team. However, in this series I was neither leader nor follower; we were complete equals and took equal credit. Each of us had knowledge and experience in one another’s disciplines and expertise in our own, but we managed to surprise one another anyway. We were driven to create something unusual and I believe we did. From the risk taking theatricality, and edgy choreography to the stunning visuals and use of the Fibonacci sequence in our titles, we created six full length shows that surprised, delighted and educated the audience. The performers and directors were left knowing they had been involved in something wonderful.
My dance company, City Modern Ensemble, is a creative team that also engages as a partnership. I am consistently inspired by my fellow dancers and administrative team: Renae Dower and Katie Reep.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

City Modern Ensemble is the modern dance company of the Roanoke Valley. I am a modern dancer, dance teacher, choreographer and the director of City Modern Ensemble.

I studied jazz, tap and ballet at a dance studio outside of Detroit, Michigan. I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t until I went on to study dance at Hope College in Holland Michigan that I found modern dance. I became passionate about the art form of dance and went on to get an Masters of Fine Arts degree at Arizona State University.

It is important to me to celebrate dance as an outlet for everyone. Dance is natural and dance speaks for itself. One needs only attend a true dance concert to understand. Attend one and you will be forever changed, You will be different, not due to the virtuosity but because of the passion you will feel coming from the dancers; the fun, the joy of movement and the effort to communicate on a visceral level.

My career has been teaching dance in studios, public schools, dance festivals and Universities, performing in dance companies, and being a guest performer, choreographing, and forming/directing City Modern Ensemble. CME is a boutique modern dance company that provides the Roanoke Valley with “art for art’s sake” via legitimate modern dance. The Roanoke Ballet Theatre, directed by Sandra Meythaler, has been a great support to us. CME offers dancers over the age of 21 a space to create and perform. I am proud of the excellence and experience these adult dancers present. We come from different dance backgrounds that influence the new works we are constantly creating. In a positive spirit of rebellion, City Modern Ensemble seeks to work with originality and authenticity. All dancers are welcome to join us by signing up for company classes, enjoy us by attending our performances (we have one coming up October 25 and 26), and dancers over the age of 21 are welcome to audition for the company.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

It would benefit creatives if their work could be appreciated and celebrated for itself rather than what it can do to help their community. The very existence of people who will devote their lives to art is the benefit in an of itself. Support the arts simply to keep them alive. Art that is independent of social values and utilitarian functions is what makes it precious and crucial. Art that comes from the heart and soul of the artist with no other goal than to create is a true gift to all who behold it.
My goal with City Modern Ensemble and previous ventures has been to create a safe space and opportunity for artists to create, and this is something society can do for creatives.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Everyone is faced with micro and macro deterrents at one point or another. These immaterial or even material interferences can impede one’s journey to self confidence. I was faced with micro deterrents throughout my education as a dancer, but I knew my heart, persisted and found acceptance and wonderful encouragement.

I have auditioned for many parts. I have won and I have lost. The failures that stand out in my mind are the ones where a decision was made purely on appearance. Literally, the dance part was filled without any dance occurring.
It was disheartening to not be chosen without the auditioners even seeing me dance. I’ve always sought to find the lesson in failures, but how was I to learn from that? In terms of feedback, I thought I had nothing to learn from these experiences. I kept auditioning and found my place in many different companies and performances. It seems the lesson was perseverance and to not take anything personally.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://citymodernensemble.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citymodernensemble?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
• Facebook: City Modern Ensemble
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liza-deck-8173a393/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVb_y0QJcSD0GC25DCEOfog

Image Credits

James Alvin Deck
David Reep