Dance Australia caught up with US-based dancer Paul Knobloch, who is spending some time in his home-town of Canberra.
Knobloch, who trained at the Canberra Dance Development Centre and the Australian Ballet School is currently dancing with Alonzo King LINES Ballet in San Francisco and danced with Bejart Ballet Lausanne prior to that appointment. He has also danced with the Australian Ballet, the English National Ballet and West Australian Ballet.
DA: Until not all that long ago you were dancing with Bejart Ballet Lausanne – when did you move and what made you choose to leave Bejart for Alonzo King LINES Ballet?
PK: I began dancing with Bejart Ballet Lausanne in 2009 after performing with the Australian Ballet as a soloist for eight years. During my time with Bejart Ballet Lausanne I was exposed to many wonderful opportunities, I had the honour of dancing on some of the most prestigious stages in the world, from the Paris Opera Palais Garnier to the most celebrated Theatres and Arenas across Europe and Japan. In 2011 Bejart Ballet Lausanne commissioned a new work by renowned choreographer Alonzo King. I was selected to dance a major role by King and to date this experience has been one of the most memorable and highlighted of my career. I felt I really came of age in my dancing during the short time of working with King and in a way found the childhood love of movement that made me want to dance in the first place. I knew I would continue to grow and develop even further by working with Alonzo, so decided to make the move to his company Alonzo King LINES Ballet in San Francisco California.
DA: Tell us about Alonzo King LINES Ballet and what you have done with the company so far?
PK: Alonzo King LINES Ballet is a celebrated contemporary ballet company that has been guided since 1982 by the unique artistic vision of Alonzo King. The company is noted for its ongoing collaborations with composers, musicians, visual artists and designers from around the world. Since my commencement with LINES Ballet I have danced featured roles in a strong contingency of the company’s vast repertoire including Handel, Writing Ground, Ocean, Resin, Migration, Triangle of the Squinches, Refraction, The Moroccan Project, Dust and Light and the King in Scheherazade.
Most recently LINES Ballet has been involved in collaboration with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago for which Alonzo created a work on the two companies. We performed Azimuth in Berkley, Chicago and Los Angeles prior to the end of our season. The experience to me was beyond inspirational and reinvigorating. I found myself placed in an environment that had more than twenty of the world’s best contemporary dancers all in the same room at once.
Another highlight of the season was working in collaboration with Grammy award winning double bassist Edgar Meyer in the work Alonzo created entitled Meyer. We performed on stage dancing in amongst the beautiful music made by Meyer and his musicians.
Alonzo creates more than choreography to me, he creates poetry and ignites emotion from his dancers, and I have learnt a lot about myself by working with Alonzo, not only as an artist but also as a human being, a light and a spirit.
DA: For how long are you back in Australia? What will you be doing while you are here?
PK: During my time in Australia I will be conducting a series of workshops presented by Canberra Dance Development Centre featuring classical ballet, repertoire, pas de deux, contemporary, choreography and improvisation skills for the wider dance community. I always enjoy coming back home to the school where I began my dance training and sharing my knowledge and experience with the up and coming, promising young students of Canberra.
It’s also always a pleasure for me to be able to catch up with my mentor of more than twenty years Director Jackie Hallahan and I always relish in any chance I get to see my family and friends.I will be performing at as a guest artist for the Canberra Dance Development Centre in their annual performance which will take place at the Canberra Theatre on August 3 2013.
On 5 August I also have the honour of presenting the Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer at the Australian Dance Awards to be held at the Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre.
DA: What draws you back to Australia? Is there any chance we will see you back here on a longer term basis in the future?
PK: Australia is my home country… I’ve been away from home for more than five years now. My international experiences are endless and I have built so many wonderful relationships across a variety of fields that I know will enrich and ensure my future involvement in the progress and development of Australian dance.
Paul Knobloch with our favourite publication! Photo: Silas Brown Photography.