Sadie Segriff - Life and Art in Isolation
“Isolation has really changed the way I see dance now. I have been reflecting on how much I do it for myself and how much I do it for others.”
Living in isolation means a lot of changes for everyone, especially for artists who often depend on the ability to physically connect with each other and audiences. We had the pleasure of hearing from Toronto-based dancer Sadie Segriff who shared her thoughts on isolation. Read her story below and listen to the first episode of Purple Glow Pod, “How Do We Define Living When We’re in Isolation?” where she shares the ways COVID-19 has been impacting her life.
Please tell us about your daily routine, how you used to dance, before COVID-19. How has isolation changed the way you practice your craft?
My daily routine before COVID-19 used to be going to Ryerson, doing 2 dances classes a day and rehearsals at night. My school has currently closed down for the rest of the semester and we don’t have any other requirements to finish my dance course. Isolation has really changed the way I see dance now. I have been reflecting on how much I do it for myself and how much I do it for others.
What has been the greatest obstacle for you in all of this?
The greatest obstacle for me through all of this is uncertainty, my family is far away from me at the moment and it is hard to say how long all of this will take and when things will go back to normal.
What have you been doing to stay healthy and busy at home? What do you plan to do in the coming weeks/months?
To stay healthy and busy at home I have to write down everything I want to do in that day and at least try to stick with it. On the daily I’m making sure I’m moving a little bit each day, cooking good meals and trying to limit myself with my devices. In the coming weeks, I plan to finish school and talk to lots of family and friends on the phone and make better habits that can help me in my life after isolation.
From @offcoursefooting
Do you think the future dance/performance industry will be changed as a result of this?
I am worried about how this will affect the dance/performance industry. The way we use social media in dance is changing. There is a plus side of having social media at this time, it has opened many opportunities for me to take classes I wouldn’t have been able to but it also worries me that connection to others through movement will not be the same once we return to regular life.
“Everything that you feel and want is what you need.”
Do you have advice for other artists in your position?
I would have to say keep doing what is going to make you happy in this time if that’s improvisation, yoga, journaling, watching a movie, reading, not doing anything for an entire day. Everything that you feel and want is what you need.
What is your favourite work of art (all genres) that you can enjoy from home? (Something online, on video, in a book, on your walls, in your house?)
Something I am enjoying from home is trying to support artists there is a cute Instagram called @quarantineartfund they donate to a COVID relief fund each week and I love to see what they produce and show my support as much as possible.
Listen to our latest episode of Purple Glow Pod where we discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on artists and arts workers in the city on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Play Music.
You can check out the interview we did with Sadie and Off Course Footing in August 2019 here.