A few years ago, I had to travel to The Hague in Holland, to learn the piece “Shutters Shut” by Paul Lightfoot and Sol Leon. “Shutters” as we called it (because saying both is too hard), was to be performed for Gauthier Dance’s new program “Lucky Seven” and we had the pleasure of working with one of the original dancers, Fernando. I have to start by saying that Shutters is one of the most challenging pieces I have ever danced. I had no idea what I was in for. The piece is only four minutes long, but it is packed with challenging movement phrases and memory tasks. The music for this piece is actually a poem by Gertrude Stein called “If I Told Him : A Completed Portrait of Picasso”. Each word in the poem has a physical movement. Sound simple? Not exactly. Let’s just say we were lucky to have Fernando. When we were stressed, his energy was always calm and encouraging….and calm is what we needed.

It comes as no shock that Fernando is excellent at breaking down movement with great detail. I have seen Fernando perform with NDT a few times and as a dancer on stage, you can see that he is a natural, beautiful mover. In rehearsal, I would just watch in amazement as he demonstrated a phrase… very inspiring. I started to think differently about how to execute movement in a relaxed way, and how to use my energy in the right moments. Fernando was also very encouraging. He pushed us to go farther then we thought we could go and gave excellent images for the movement. We worked intensely, it was a great process and we had fun also.

Working with Fernando was a wake up call for me. He gave me so much information… I left with a new sense of awareness. To this day, whenever I come across something challenging, his words pass through my head, I calm down, and do my best.

Fernando is a freelance choreographer and a long time dancer with Netherlands Dance Theater……………………….

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you always want to do what you’re doing now?
[quote]I started to do gymnastics at the age of 6. My parents had some difficulties dealing with the amount of energy I always had, so they decided to take me somewhere where I could focus it (they needed a break!). That’s how I started. When I was little, besides wanting to be what most of the kids dreamed of becoming (Fireman, Astronaut, Detective, Actor, Super Hero…) I thought I would become a Gymnasts coach. I never thought I would end up dancing or choreographing. I had no idea what a dance career meant at that time.[/quote]

 Fernando’s Favorite things

 

Favorite Things to eat?
[quote]It must be because of my Spanish roots but, besides the more elaborate dishes, I love olives. Within my favorites are Salmorejo, an Andalusian cold soup made with tomatoes, bread, oil, garlic and vinegar, and garnished with diced Spanish serrano ham and diced hard-boiled eggs. Also, grilled squid with aioli, Bistecca alla Fiorentina, or any of the dishes that my brother Alberto makes – he’s a fabulous and professional chef.[/quote]
Favorite Books?
[quote]Some of them include ‘The man who mistook his wife for a Hat’ from Oliver Sacks, ‘The Element’ from Ken Robinson, ‘Los renglones torcidos de Dios’ (The crooked lines of God) from Torcuato Luca de Tena. In order to be properly documented, Luca de Tena pretended to be mentally ill so he could be admitted into a psychiatric institution, where he lived directly with the patients that became the basis for the creation of the characters in the play.[/quote]
Favorite Movies?
[quote]Some of them could be, Space Odyssey 2001 – I enjoy Science Fiction. A few Woody Allen films. Open your eyes, from Alejandro Amenabar, some Juan Jose Campanella or Adolfo Aristarain, great Argentinian movie makers. This is a difficult question as there are many.[/quote]
Favorite Dance Piece or Show/Musical or both?
[quote]There are many too, some of them could be ‘Last touch first’ from Jiri Kylian, Forsythe’s ‘Three Atmospheric Studies’, ‘A louer’ from Peeping Tom, ‘Shoot the Moon’ from Sol Leon and Paul Lightfoot.[/quote]
I like dancers who…

…think like artists.

I am Afraid of…

solitude, suffering of people I love, stupidity, injustice.

Something you like to do other than dancing?

Enjoying nature; travel; being with the family.

Dear aspiring artist,

Be honest with yourself. Find their true artist. Look for happiness, not for success.

— Fernando Hernando Magadan

Photo Journal

 

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To find out more about Fernando, visit www.fernandomagadan.com Have you worked with Fernando? Help me say thank you by sharing your stories in the comments below. Thank YOU for reading!

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