Discover Dance, Digging Deeper: SaMel Tanz
Associate Artist, Neena Jayarajan, has written about her experience of the September 2023 edition of Discover Dance, with artists Sam and Mel, hosted by Dainty Smith.
Neena’s experience
Live the life you want to tell
Jab, cross, slip! Just a few of the names to the moves that we got to learn from the dynamic duo Samantha Schleese and Melissa Hart aka SaMel Tanz, a play on their names and a nod to Sam’s German heritage “Tanz” meaning dance. Sporting SaMel Tanz t-shirts that say “ Live the life you want to tell”. A fitting message from two artists looking to take up space In the industry with their unique style and collaboration.
What started as a cloudy day in September, was filled with warmth from the palpable connection between these two artists who are not only collaborators, but also best friends. Over the hour we watched them perform a wide spectrum of excerpts giving us a glimpse into the multitude of skill sets these two carry in their body’s.
Beginning with a 5 minute improv, audiences were privy to a part of their creative process, in addition to being educated on what improvisation means to a Choreographer and interpreter. We watched these 2 dancers listen with their bodies to each other, often knowing what and where the other dancer was without making eye contact. A skillset only those who have spent countless hours together both in studio and in life could accomplish.
“...an alluring duet filled with moments of touch and support showcasing the trust and safety they felt with each other between fleeting embraces and compassionate glances”
Interwoven between each dance number was an engaging conversation with host Dainty Smith, who often asked the questions our audience members were thinking. We learned that Mel began her dance journey at the age of 6 with Ballet, and Sam who was an avid swimmer, took dancing competitively at age 12. They both began dancing together over 15 years ago which inevitably led to the establishment of their company SaMel Tanz in 2015. When asked the question “why dance?” Mel spoke about dance bringing a sense of community and home, that dance was healing, explorative, free and allowed her to meet people from all walks of life. Sam felt she had no other choice but to dance, that in addition to being freeing and healing it also brought out her feminine energy.
In Sam and Mel’s second duet titled “togetherness”, we saw the product of how hours in the studio produced an alluring duet filled with moments of touch and support showcasing the trust and safety they felt with each other between fleeting embraces and compassionate glances. It was a lovely front row seat into their working dynamic.
One of the central focuses of their presentation and current explorations comes out of boxing. When Sam and Mel were searching for alternative forms of exercise outside of standard gym practices, they turned to boxing classes and never looked back. This led to the creation of Championess. A piece which intertwines boxing, contemporary, street, and Latin dance while exploring ideas around identity and mental health. The work speaks to ideas around female solidarity, community and empowerment by challenging societal perceptions. Appropriately titled, “Championess” is the term used to historically refer to female boxers. Not only did we get a sneak peak of their piece, but also watched them prepare their hands with boxing wraps and gloves, something many of our audience members had never seen done. As host Dainty Smith says, they revealed “behind the velvet curtain”, a process which was very deliberate and specific. Sam and Mel also led our audiences through a short boxing lesson, with each Jab, Cross, increasing in force and speed leaving our boxers for the day feeling inspired and curious. They shared with out how they took simple boxing moves and turned them into choreography, definitely a highlight for me as an observer and participant.
Discover Dance with Sam and Mel left me feeling inspired and impressed with these two incredible women. I am excited to see their newest work Championess on November 16-18th at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre by DanceWorks and will continue to watch this duo bring awareness to important societal issues through their work. Their ability to unapologetically showcase the multitude of forms they practice through tasteful choreography is refreshingly exciting.