Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah J Hillmer.
Sarah J, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I have spent the majority of my life in the arts world; from dancing as a company member with Atlanta Ballet, to helping form the contemporary platform glo, to performing with Staibdance. Through all the dancing and performing, teaching was always a part of me. Earlier on, it was a way to pay my bills, but as the years went on I realized this was where my real voice and passion lay. The desire to guide and shape an artist’s voice, to instill in them the confidence to find and follow their own voice, and to hone their tools needed to speak their craft effectually and articulately.
This is what has shaped my steps as a Ballet Mistress at Atlanta Ballet, given focus to my work with choreographers as I assist their process and re-stage their works around the world, and fast forwarding to the present – one of the guiding factors in founding Immerse, a contemporary dance training environment. With ImmerseATL it is my goal to cultivate creators and shape leaders, pouring into the arts world people who are vibrant and wholly engaged. ImmerseATL is a part of who I am, what I believe, and what I value most in artists – it is my intention to instill those values in the next generation.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
My art is the story I write on an individual’s lives. My art is the spark I see in someone when they know – “this is what I am capable of, this is what is possible for me”. My art is the life that has become inspired because of a small suggestion or guiding hand I offered. I have set about to cultivate creators and shape leaders – which is no small task, and quite frankly a bit brazen, but I am passionate about people waking up to their full potential. I run a rigorous training ground for individuals wishing to pursue a contemporary dance career, but most importantly this education is shaping in them a broader perspective of our arts world and instilling in them the skills needed to engage and impact their communities.
What do you know now that you wished you had learned earlier?
Work ethic, openness, curiosity and good old-fashioned determination are skills that are essential. If you possess these – don’t think lightly of them. These skills will help the longevity of your craft and your ability to keep direction when the going gets tough.
Be who you are as much as you know to be, pursue your ideas with everything you have, and know that you being simply you has a lasting impact, that in the moment we can rarely see. Surround yourself with people that challenge you and encourage you to be the very best at whatever you pursue.
Always listen.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
ImmerseATL Artists – the hand selected, top tier of our training environment can be found performing around Atlanta each year. They perform a variety of repertoire, mine included – all tailored for the unique environments they are performing in. Our new crop of ImmerseATL Artists will be revealed in September 2018 and performance dates will follow. Our 2017 Artists can be found at https://www.immerseatl.com/artists-1/.
Contact Info:
- Website: immerseatl.com
- Email: sarah@immerseatl.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/immerseatl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/immerseAtlanta/
Image Credit:
Daley Kappenman (personal photo)
Brian Wallenberg (1st photo)
Synapse Photography (2nd photo)
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
