JAMAAL BURKMAR- How To Build A Universe

Heather Saunders

What is How To Build A Universe about and what was your inspiration for the piece?

How To Build A Universe is a show about making shows. It’s about the first blank page, an empty white walled studio, a solo metronome ticking in a room filled with instruments The show is an exploration of my relationship to the unseen and unspoken ‘rules’ of creation that are steeped in known and unknown biases

Why did you decide this piece should be intergenerational? Does it feature your mother because of her dance experience?

I’d say my first desire was to make this piece in such a way that anyone could interact with it. When I was a student and then when I was a younger graduate, I really felt the weight of what ‘dance was supposed to look like’ That weight may have been imposed on me by others, it may have been imposed on me by myself, but it’s become a weight I've wanted to unburden myself from for a long time. Welcoming guests into this work, regardless of age, background, ability is another step in creating a place for myself that anyone can come and be a part of Asking my mum to perform in our premiere felt like the most apt way to begin our tour It actually has little to do with her dance experience and all to do with literally everything else

How has your mother influenced you in your career?

There isn’t a career with my mother. There’s 4 burkmar children There’s no career for any of us without our mother. How valuable is spontaneity to your work?

Crucial. Not only in my work but in my relationship to this industry Our relationship to improvisation keeps things feeling constantly alive But it’s also the silent long periods of staring at blank walls that have allowed me to constantly refresh my ideas of how and why I choose to be an artist

How significant is your choice of music in How To Build A Universe?

Music is pretty much the only thing that’ll get me into a studio, so it’s pretty significant with any work I make I’ve worked with my brother on this project to create a text based score for this show, alongside more wonderful music from Jameszoo Ultimately, I don’t have too much to say about it, music says something for me that I don't quite know how to put into words, so its existence in each work is difficult to explain

How has your mother influenced you in your career?

There isn’t a career with my mother There’s 4 Burkmar children There’s no career for any of us without our mother.

How valuable is spontaneity to your work?

Crucial Not only in my work but in my relationship to this industry Our relationship to improvisation keeps things feeling constantly alive. But it’s also the silent long periods of staring at blank walls that have allowed me to constantly refresh my ideas of how and why I choose to be an artist

How significant is your choice of music in How To Build A Universe?

Music is pretty much the only thing that’ll get me into a studio, so it’s pretty significant with any work I make I’ve worked with my brother on this project to create a text based score for this show, alongside more wonderful music from Jameszoo Ultimately, I don’t have too much to say about it, music says something for me that I don't quite know how to put into words, so its existence in each work is difficult to explain.