Travis Wall is a man that has forever changed the world of modern dance. He empowers and enables everyone to believe in the impossible, and most importantly - to believe in themselves. Wall’s latest feat is the stunner, ‘After The Curtain.’ A performance that showcases the abilities of the human body, and profiles the strength of our emotions. GayCalgary chatted with Travis prior to the Alberta Ballet presentation of Shaping Sound: After The Curtain.

GC: What does dance mean to you?

Travis Wall: Dance is everything I have ever know known. It is in my DNA. I was dancing since I took my first breath.

GC: Why is the art of dance so important to this generation?

TW: It gives everybody the opportunity of self-expression. I think this generation needs and wants to have a voice and this is a way of providing a platform for that and self-empowerment. This generation, my generation has the ability to create work and put it out for the universe to see.

GC: What makes Shaping Sound such a unique show?

TW: It is everything you want a dance and theatrical production to be. It has a beautiful story line that everyone can relate to and we really push the boundaries of your typical dance show with our lighting, technical elements and overall theatrics. We address bold story lines that most shows might shy away from and we encourage people to think outside of their normal comfort zone. It’s hard to sometimes put your thoughts into words and we have the ability to use movement to share these expressions.

GC: What do you hope audiences take away from the performance?

TW: I hope that the audience allows themselves to escape the realities of the real world for the two hours they are in the theater. I ask everyone after the show, what stood out to them the most, what did they walk away with and the most recurring theme, seems to be their own personal relationships and how they treat those closest to them in their own lives. Hopefully it also encourages people to think how important dance can be when telling a story.

GC: To date, what are your proudest accomplishments?

TW: This show for sure! I have given my all to After The Curtain and really proud every day. It is a lot of heart and dedication, not just from me, but everyone in the company. It’s been quite the journey, but I am really proud. And of course, my 2 Emmys! I worked hard for those!

GC: If you had to switch careers and pursue something entirely uncreative, where would we find you?

TW: Oh, God. Something that makes a ton of money.  I can’t imagine not being a creative person.

GC: Where do you draw inspiration from?

TW: Everyday life. Truly. The smallest things I encounter day to day inspire me. It can be something I see, something I hear, something that happened in a relationship of mine. I just keep it all locked up in vault and it sometimes turns into a piece.

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Contributor Lisa Lunney |

Locale Calgary | Edmonton |

Person Travis Wall |

Topic Alberta Ballet |Celebrity Interview |