Ambitious Aisling

by Cassie Hart for perthdance.com

The life of an "independent artist" can be an unrewarding struggle, but if you put in the right amount of work and possess the talent, you won't go unnoticed in the dance scene. Exemplifying my point is Aisling Donovan, freelance dancer, choreographer and teacher.

Hot on the heels of the latest Strut season Donovan has been keeping herself busy, having already performed in four separate contemporary dance works this year including Schreibstuck (Aimee Smith), Legs 11 (Jeni Sutton), Preparing to be Beautiful (Alice Lee Holland) and Room With Her View, which Donovan choreographed and performed. Balancing performing with teaching, Donovan occasionally guest teaches at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (W.A.A.P.A) and for Strut Dance, and recently assessed students of the Graduate College of Dance. With many more future projects in the bag, Aisling is proving herself in high demand indeed!

The W.A Dance Awards acknowledged Donovan this year by awarding her Best Emerging Artist, in appreciation of recent contributions made to independent dance works. Colleagues describe her as a versatile, inspiring dancer who is a pleasure to watch. "In every role she takes, be it her own work or that of another choreographer, Aisling is inspiring," the award citation read.

Known to her friends as Ash, this bright, beautiful redhead hails from Ashfield in Sydney. The arts were always a part of her life, with her parents and all three sisters embracing it. "As we were growing up, we were always singing and dancing and making up shows together," recalls Aisling. "My mum, dad and sisters are incredibly supportive of all that I do."

Upon completing high school, her journeys began, flying over to Perth to live whilst undertaking W.A.A.P.A's Bachelor of Arts program. This experience deepened her desire to dance. "There is something exhilarating about moving and shaking your body like you just don't care," she explains. "Dance is a means of expression and it is an essential part of life. Anyone can do it and everyone should, whether you are a trained dancer or a non-trained dancer!"

After Aisling graduated from W.A.A.P.A she decided to start her life as an independent artist in home town Sydney: "I moved back to find some new inspiration and to see what was going on over on the East coast," she explains. After undertaking development projects, performances and various teaching roles, an opportunity to return to Perth presented itself: “I found myself being drawn back to Perth to work with fellow W.A.A.P.A graduates,” Ash recalls. In 2006, Aisling ventured overseas to dip into the European pool of dance wisdom, participating in workshops in Vienna and Berlin.

Aisling got to put on her choreographic boots at the start of 2007 when she created Room With Her View. The piece was first created during a mentorship with Sue Peacock and is a 15 minute solo about social anxiety and isolation. It was first performed for the 2007 Strut season and again in 2008 for Dance a La Carte, performed at The Blue Room. "It stemmed from a personal experience I had of living in a tiny room in London with only a small window to view the outside world," she explains. The audience views a girl who is scared of the outside world and makes numerous attempts to leave the room. "I aim to create work that stems from an emotion or an idea and work to portray that idea through creating an interesting and unique movement vocabulary. I always aim to portray a particular feeling and hope to evoke something in the audience."

The key to being a successful independent artist is to keep working, though that can be easier said than done. Aisling is currently working on two creative development projects whilst also rehearsing for Drovers Wives (Sally Richardson) which will be performed in Northam next month.

"It has taken me a few years to build my reputation and to get to the point where I have almost enough work to keep me going," she admits. "At times there is not very much work and then at other times there is way too much work. When it rains it pours - though I never complain about that!"

Whilst Aisling is looking forward to a relaxing Christmas with her family in Sydney, she will continue to explore and develop her art over the holidays. Combining business with pleasure, she and new husband Anthony will be jetting overseas this summer: "To see some amazing parts of the world and to find new inspiration."