Goddess of Contortion & Fine Food

Written by Jessica Ruano | Photos by Fund for a New Generation and by Alex Wilson

Original article at www.ottawalife.com under Arts Scene in the Capital Ottawa’s dance community is a curious beast. The National Arts Centre invites dance performances from around the world, while Le Groupe Danse Lab, based in the Arts Court, focuses on workshop creation and nurtures local dancers and choreographers. However, some of our most interesting local talent can be found in the windows of art galleries, as entertainment at upscale hotel receptions, and onstage in Ottawa’s alternative venues and cabaret evenings.” Contortionist Sara Banks first caught my eye at the Isme(e) performance cabaret, an all-inclusive artistic extravaganza that takes place sporadically at the Saw Gallery on Nicholas Street. The first thing you’ll notice about this performer is her stunning figure. Banks is six foot four-and-a-half and gorgeously slender. The second thing you’ll notice is her impressive flexibility. Even before she became deeply involved in the art of contortion, fellow dancers always commented on Banks’ ability to twist her body into all sorts of amazing shapes. “I took a contact [improvisation] class in Ohio. That’s what broke the mould for me using my body artistically. Soon afterward, I started doing performances in studio shows. Then people started responding to my flexibility. I hadn’t realized I was that remarkable; I just thought other people were lazy!” admits Banks. Although Banks had been primarily interested in music, specifically in playing the double bass, she took advantage of this newfound talent and began taking movement classes in Montreal and New York. She continues to refine her skills in contortion, circus arts, yoga, rhythmic gymnastics, and general body control. The multi-talented dancer says that her diverse training has been instrumental in defining her very unique performance style. “I approach it from a ballet perspective, in addition to modern dance and gymnastics. My height is very helpful for that. People have said I’m graceful and proportional for someone my height.” In addition to her performing gigs, Banks makes use of her flexibility when modeling for the camera. “That’s one reason I love contortionist modeling: I love the still image. The arrangement of the body parts can be so unique and dynamic and expressive. It can create imagery that is so striking and touching. That’s something I value so much. When dancers are trained they’re given the x-y-z of body shapes. But I’m very experimental with body shapes. My body is very unique.” But flexibility is only one part of the performance whole. Banks explains that a strong sense of creativity is invaluable when it comes to fashion-ing thought-provoking performance pieces. Through dance and contortion, Banks manages to discuss issues that are important to her and make strong, visual statements that reflect her belief system. “I got paid to dance for the first time in my life when I performed in a show called Is it alright? Dancers performed individual pieces about food and body image. My piece was about modeling and anorexia. It consisted of bending over backwards over a candy bar. There’s always been a soft spot in my heart for surrealism. When I do my entertainment pieces, I create personas that are animal based and mythology based. I try to take that elevated status of a goddess, perfectly graceful, all powerful, a spectacle to behold, totally untouchable. “Another one of my pieces was about body awareness, listening to our body about what it needs. That’s why I was so involved in improv for so long; I was letting my body guide me through the performance. It’s fantastic. It’s kind of my favourite thing to do. “I talk about power, social commentary, claiming power for oneself, exercising power over the audience, unconsciously spinning power on its head. My work does tend to dig pretty deep. I always work towards artistic growth, or whatever that really means.” Banks continues to grow artistically not only in performance, but also in the culinary arts. For some time now, she has been hosting gourmet vegan dinners with a theme at her downtown apartment and selling delicious treats at health food stores and craft fairs. Her major project for 2009 is opening her own arts-friendly restaurant called The Granola Girl Cafe, which will serve all homemade vegan dishes. “Having an artistic performance hot spot has always been a dream of mine. I love throwing parties, creating events, having a venue for discussion and networking. It’ll be a place people want to sit down, a philosopher’s corner kind of thing. I make everything from scratch, even soy cream and mayonnaise. My recipes are based off imitation dairy and meat, but they take on their own aesthetic. They’re not graded on how close they come to real thing; they’re graded on how wonderful they taste.” Sara Banks continues to perform in venues around Ottawa and plans to open her Granola Girl Cafe in the near future. For more information about her numerous projects, please visit www.priestessanness.com and www.thegranolagirlcafe.com