Tandy Beal creates “dance that is exciting, mysterious, theatrical, humorous and energetic” (Seattle Post Intelligencer). “Her stage is a wondrous wayside where mystery unfolds.” (Los Angeles Times). She is “a choreographer of taste and intelligence…with a sure sense of theater.” (New York Times) “Astonishing virtuosity…theatrical savvy…her solos are like jewels, all of which shine…” (Libération, Paris)
Tandy began her career at age 16 touring world-wide with Alwin Nikolais Dance Theatre, performing off-Broadway, appearing as a guest with Atlanta Ballet, Momix, Remy Charlip, Murray Louis, Oakland Ballet, Carolyn Carlson in France and Bobby McFerrin, with whom she has worked for over 30 years. She has made 100+ works for her own company touring 4 continents. In 2014, she premiered a new show for Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company in Salt Lake City.
Her off-the-map career has led her to opera, circus, music videos, corporate events, solo shows, animation, horse spectacles, commercials, and fundraising extravaganzas.
A woman of diverse theatrical talent and expertise, Tandy served as Artistic Director for the Moscow Circus in Japan for 2 years and for the Pickle Family Circus for 10 years.
Tandy has worked with many composers, including Art Lande, Lou Harrison, John Adams, SoVoSó and for 40 astonishing years with her co-conspirator, Jon Scoville. She was the choreographer for Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, MTV and the Emmy award-winning PBS special, Voice/Dance. She received awards from the American Film Institute to make a film on Hildegard von Bingen, and the San Francisco Museum of Performance and Design chose Beal for their video project Four Dance Icons of the West.
Tandy has taught at the Centre National de la Danse Contemporaine (France), 30 years at the University of Utah as an annual guest artist, UC Santa Cruz and chaired the Cabrillo College Dance Dept. She is an articulate and inspiring speaker on creativity, arts, collaboration and arts education. (Dance USA, SF Business Bureau, Cherry Foundation, Arts Council Santa Cruz, Westaff and more.)
What did the Fellowship or Laureate mean to you at the time you received it?
It was an honor and a privilege to receive this award from you. When one is chosen for an award, the deep and unquantifiable gift is feeling like your work in fact does mean something to other people - and especially significant when it is at home where most of one's work is done!
What do you do now? Has your art evolved or changed?
I am still making all kinds of art... "HereAfterHere: a self-guided tour of eternity" is my latest full scale, multi-arts production, which was just at the Louis B. Meyer Theatre in Santa Clara. Also these events: In Your Shoes... Empathy Art Actions - In the streets, schools and businesses. ArtSmart, producing excellent artists for kids in schools, teachers and public shows for families. Crack the Nut! our wild show with singers, circus and dance... Mangia del Arte, our art fundraiser for non-profits with circus, dance and song. Still touring with Bobby McFerrin. 40 Odd Moves: Solos and other Entertainments. Celebrating in 2014-15, 40 Odd Years of having a performing company!
What is one piece of advice you would give to an emerging artist?
At this age--it is not one piece! #1 Keep people around you who have light hearts. #2 Go out and look at the stars and remember what a miraculous event we are all in, even if you didn't get the grant! #3 Figure out a way to earn that does not suck your life away because being a starving artist is really not productive, and neither is a job that has you working 24/7 with no payback but $. And yes, #4, cultivate many loves - your cat, your friends, books, gardening, languages - you will need solace at times, and having refined and different loves is a great help! #5 And don't gossip. Everyone is doing her or his best, even when you can't see or fathom it!
Briefly, how would you describe the state of the arts locally, as well as national and beyond?
Difficult and wonderful, as it always is!