Dancer Q&A: Spencer Hack

What are you looking forward to this fall?

I’m really excited about MADDADDAM. I’m a fan of Wayne McGregor’s work as well as the work of the collaborators he’s brought on board for the production. There aren’t too many ballets based on contemporary literature, so I’m curious to see how he’s been inspired by the themes of Margaret Atwood’s novels and how those themes translate to dance. As a dancer, creations are always exciting to be a part of and I’m sure this will be no exception.

Do you have any professional or personal goals for the season ahead?

My goal for the season ahead is to simply enjoy it. Sometimes I realize that I focus so intensely on dancing well that I forget to think about enjoying it. It’s easy to become discouraged and overwhelmed when I’m struggling with certain steps, or when I feel completely exhausted, but I’m doing my best to remember that no matter how hard things get, I love to dance and I feel so lucky to get to do it every day.

What inspires you these days and keeps you motivated?

I’m motivated and inspired by my friends and colleagues who I work with. This company is full of amazing artists and people. Especially during our run of Swan Lake last June, I was so inspired by the whole company coming together to put on a massive, new production. There was so much care for each other and so much support throughout the creation process and during the run of shows. That experience made it clear to me that dancing with people you care about is one of my favourite things about being a dancer.