INTERVIEW, RYAN HEFFINGTON
CHOREOGRAPHER, PROMOTER, MUSICIAN, AND ALL THINGS
DANCE GURU
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
Yuba City CA - a small
crack capital in northern Cali.
WHAT WAS GROWING UP LIKE?
A bit misplaced. Dance was
an alternative reality from my everyday life.
After school I ran off to dance school - where I
tapped my heart out for hours.
There was the usual taunting from small towns
kids... I simply didn't care.
Dance was my armor.
CONSIDERING YOU ARE SUCH A
FREE SPIRIT, WAS YOUR HOUSEHOLD LIKE THIS?
Well...it's a black sheep
story.
Parents worked and I played all the time - much like
I do now.
A typical blue collar set up - with an inspired gay
son on the side.
I wouldn't consider my childhood guided by liberals
—
I was the one sneaking out of the house, getting
drunk,
dressing up and getting grounded for my "pig stye"
of a room.
I KNOW YOU HAVE SO MANY
DIFFERENT PROJECTS YOU DO...
DANCE NIGHTS, DANCE CLASS, MUSIC VIDEOS, TAKING OVER
HOTELS, MAKING COSTUMES, ETC. CAN YOU TELL ME A BIT
OF SOME OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT PROJECTS YOU ARE DOING?
I'm actively creating my 3
month residency (Oct-Dec)
at MOCA - which is a milestone in my career I
believe. Parties,
performances and yes a dance or two. I'm also
working on "Berber"— a dance musical based on the
life of Anita Berber due March.
WHAT IS ONE OF THE MOST
MEMORABLE PERFORMANCES YOU'VE DONE TO DATE?
Dancing in front of Babs a
couple of weeks ago at a wedding.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD A "REAL JOB
WORKING FOR THE MAN"
SORT OF SITUATION? OR HAVE YOU ALWAYS DONE WHAT
YOU'VE WANTED TO DO?
IF YOU HAVE, HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THAT PRESSURE TO
FOLLOW
WHAT SOCIETY TELLS YOU IS THE RIGHT WAY TO LIVE, AND
DO WHAT
YOU KNEW WAS THE RIGHT WAY FOR YOU TO
LIVE?
I tried sweeping hair in a
salon and working at arthouse theaters
in my early 20's - my searching period. Beyond this
I did what ever I wanted to do.The joys of creating
with no money, starving and living my dreams were
my only choices for salvation. I denied advice from
mentors/parents: Cut your hair if you want to work
in the commercial world - you cant do it all - you
need a back up career...I was the "yes" man and
followed my heart.
WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE
SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT MIGHT NOT?
I don't believe in God.
WHAT IS ONE OF THE MOST
IMPACTING MOMENTS OF OUR LIFE,
THAT MIGHT HAVE CHANGED EVERYTHING?
When my high school friends
handed me literature on Colleges in LA..
I was on the path to community college in Yuba and
teaching dance at Colleen's Dance Factory.
It was the slap in the face I needed.
HOW IMPORTANT (IF AT ALL) IS
SEXUALITY IN YOUR WORK?
It's not necessarily
important to my work. It does inspire character and
sometimes absurdity. Sometimes pieces are purely
technical and other times guided by
cross-dressing house wives. I see it as a reference
point - that can be played against or be recreated
with vanilla standards.
IS THE GIFT OF PUBLIC ART AND
COMMUNITY
SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE TO YOU, AND IN WHAT WAYS?
Now with all the dance
shows televised dance has reached a new audience -
something I always strive for in my art. Dance has
power and can activate immence happiness. With
inspiring people through public dance, Sweaty
Sundays, night club performances I hope to connect
people to themselves and through dance - not only to
simply be inspired but to participate.
WHAT IS THE VOICE YOU ARE
TRYING TO HAVE PEOPLE HEAR?
Hopefully, do what makes
you happy.
WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO WITH
YOUR WORK?
