Regina: Heather Cameron

photo by Eagleclaw Thom, intro by Fran Gilboy

Heather Cameron makes up one third of the prairie contemporary dance troupe, FadaDance, though that’s just one small part, (ok. BIG part) of what she’s known for in our arts community.

Heather is a wicked solo-artist with an upcoming show Waiting for the Bus being presented by New Dance Horizons. She’s an innovative co-creator of a multitude of multi-disciplinary projects. She’s magic with a microphone and has become known for her animated MC’ing abilities. She is a beloved teacher to young creative movers.

She is an artist who considers things in an unparalleled way and delivers excellence in all she touches.

KC: What kinds of projects are you involved in right now?

Parties! December is always a very festive month for FadaDance. We throw a booty shakin’ Christmas party every year with performances and DJs that goes into the wee hours of the night. Every year the party is themed differently, this year it’s “Madonnas.” And, now that we all have families, we also throw a mini-version of this party for all ages. In my more “serious” world of contemporary dance I’m working on a solo, Waiting for the Bus, that I will be performing in March as part of the New Dance Horizons Prairie Dance Circuit.

KC: What’s your day job? What do you like about it? What’s challenging?

That’s a hard question for me. I don’t know if I have one… I am a dancer, a choreographer, a movement teacher and a mom. I do all these things, all the time, all mixed up and mashed together. But, I think being a dance teacher is probably the most “day job-esque” of them all. I love my students. It’s deeply satisfying that I have been working with some of them for over 10 years and have witnessed them transform into sophisticated movers with refined choreographic skills. I love that my job is to play and teach play. I love that I get to set choreography on large groups of humans. I love that at FadaDance the process is valued and used as a teaching method. I love that even as I am teaching I am always learning. I love that the studio is 4 blocks from my house. I love the community of people that believe in our school, in each other, and in the work we do. What’s challenging? I find that creating art is generally always challenging, it requires being vulnerable and self-critical – which can be exhausting. Starting is always nerve wracking for me. Whether it’s the beginning of the year, a new class or a new piece. It’s still always a little daunting…

KC: What’s important to you?

My family. Our dance troupe. Having a sense of freedom. Continuous learning. Being challenged. My physical health and strength. Finding a balance between relaxation and rigor.

KC: What do you like most/least about Regina?

I really like the sunflowers that grow in my alley in the summertime. I love going next door for tea with 84 year old “Aunty Do.” I love having a bike route specifically intended for eating alley raspberries. I love that most of my closest friends all live within 100 steps from my door. It’s also really important to me how easily you can get out of Regina - that it’s a small city in the flattest part of the prairies. I hate dirty city snow. Regina can get really ugly. I hate the East End. I find it depressing how dead the downtown is.

KC: What is your impression of Saskatoon?

I honestly don’t have much of an impression. I don’t really have any strong connections to Saskatoon. Blank white piece of paper. Pretty river. Better shopping. Better shows.

KC: How do you survive the winters?

I get cozy. I make cookies and wear multiple bunnyhugs. When I go outside, I get SERIOUS with my winter gear so that I can enjoy it. Otherwise, I would hate it.

KC: (from the Proust questionnaire): What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Pushing a tiny human out of my body.