Spotlight on a Community Dancer - Marielle Lespérance

What company do you dance with?

I dance with Change of Step Highland Dance Company, a company that I founded along with 5 other dancers from Nova Scotia and Ontario. We are a contemporary highland dance company that performs original choreography, showcasing the power, grace and musicality of highland dancing while introducing it to a wide audience.

How long have you been dancing?

I have been dancing since I was about 4 years old, and haven't stopped since! I'm still competing and performing and enjoying every moment of it.

What is your most cherished memory from dance?

Highland dance has given me so many wonderful memories, experiences and friendships, that it's hard to pick a single one. My World Championship titles and the feeling of performing the “World Champions Fling” always gives me goose bumps to think back on. The choreographed World Champion trios that I performed, one with the 2003 World Champions and the other with the 2016 World Champions, also stick out in my mind. Getting to share the stage with dancers that I admire was nothing short of magical. The 2016 World Champion trio was made extra special by the fact that it was a piece I choreographed, so I got to have my own choreography brought to life by the best dancers in the world. I have also had opportunities to perform live with incredible musicians, including some whose recordings I choreographed and danced to as a teen. The pure joy of dancing to fantastic music is indescribable, and getting to share that joy with musicians and an audience (who may never have seen highland dancing before) is very special. Finally, the greatest honour of my dance career has to be when I was asked by my dance idol, 10-time World Champion Colleen Rintamaki, to perform at her wedding reception. Colleen has always been my favourite dancer and who I aspire to dance like, and to be given this honour was about as humbling as winning a World Championship.

What do you enjoy most about dancing?

I love traditional and competitive highland dancing because it is extremely technical and requires strength and power. There is no such thing as a perfect highland dancer - there is always a new goal to aim for, whether it's jumping higher or making your movements sharper and more exact. I love to fine tune my dancing and push my boundaries to see how much better I can become. I also love choreographed highland dancing because it allows for creativity and expression of music. I have always listened to traditional music and love to create and perform steps that emphasize the musicality of highland dancing.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.

I have B.Sc and M.Sc. degrees in Physics, and enjoy cross country skiing, biking, hiking, and sewing (I've actually sewn quite a few of Change of Step's and choreography costumes myself).

If you could pick anyone as a mentor who would it be?

I already have some of the best mentors I could ask for. I have been taught for over 20 years by Ellen Cameron Maloney, and to this day she remains my greatest influence. She has guided me every step of the way through my competitive career, and has helped me become the best dancer and competitor I could be. I have no doubt that I would not have become the dancer I am today without Ellen. I was also lucky to train with Janice Macquarrie while studying towards my B.Sc. at St. Francis Xavier University. Janice is an extremely talented choreographer and teacher, and she helped me to grow as a dancer during my time with her. Ellen and Janice have always been so giving of their time to critique my dancing and lend me advice whenever I need it.

When you have free time, what do you do?

I like to spend time outdoors (camping, hiking, biking, you name it!), and hang out with friends and family. I love to travel and explore new parts of the world, learning about other cultures and tasting different types of food.

How do you balance dance and your life outside of dance?

I am pursuing dancing as a career, so dance has really taken over! I started my own dance school in Dartmouth, NS three years ago and currently spend most of my time teaching/running my business. I also still actively compete and perform. In the past, I had to juggle dancing with other commitments, especially when working towards my B.Sc. and M.Sc.’s. I think having an activity to take your mind off the stress of academics is important, so dancing was always a much-needed break for me. Those who are committed enough to their art will always find the time to practice, so that is what I did. Now that I do dance full time, I try to pursue other interests so that I don't become consumed in my dancing, and I spend as much time as possible with friends and family.

Guest UserNovember 5, 2020