Alumni Spotlight Lisa Martain Hoffer

 

 

Lisa Martain Hoffer, Special Events and Corporate Membership Coordinator at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago 

What years did you work with The Dance COLEctive?  

1994 - 1995?? I'm still amazed and honored Margi asked me to be a part of her inaugural year. What was she thinking? lol. Pretty sure I said yes immediately. I had been a dance major in high school and college but 10 years post, I was past planning to perform. I wasn't even taking class regularly. I truly enjoyed the opportunity to join The Dance COLEctive of the transformative journey of that first year.  

Lisa in action!

Any favorite TDC Memories? 

Someone always had to hold my hand during crossovers because I couldn't see anything in the dark without my glasses. "Who's got Lisa??" And laughing our asses off about everything. We were all good friends before we became a company. I think that came through in our performances; our desire to make Margi proud.  

 

 

In costume in Women's Song

On Stage or Site-Specific Performance? 

I'll never forget the sounds of the train at Links Hall (Wrigleyville location). Once we went on right after another group who had used sod in their performance. We took our bows coated in dirt and grass in unusual places. The lack of air conditioning really made it stick.

 

 

What are you doing now?  

I've always worked for non-profits and/or cultural institutions which is how I met Margi. I was Assistant to the Chair at The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago where of course Margi was on staff. I'm going on 2.5 years now as the Special Events and Corporate Membership Coordinator at the Museum of Science and Industry. I squeeze in a class when the mood hits me. Though I'll confess it's not that often as the years go by. 

First Night Springfield 

 

Where can we find more information about you? 

LinkedIn

Do you use any Margi-ism’s?

Sweaty coo-potch - Not for use around parents or children but sometimes your dance clothes don't breathe the way they should. 

Ginch - Every joint in my body has a ginch. Getting older is getting harder to ignore.  

Memory from Margi

Lisa really worked with the company before it was officially "the company"!  Before we did real video documentation.  Before big company photo shoots. I had the pleasure of meeting and working with her at the Dance Center.  What stands out in my memory was her genuine enthusiasm to be a part of a creative process, her outstanding sense of humor and her distinctive laugh!  Never a dull moment when Lisa was in the room.  That has continued for as long as I have known her.  I was drawn to her long beautiful limbs and quirky and unassuming movement style.  Lisa was integral in helping to establish the vibrant energy that sparked the development of The Dance COLEctive.  She has remained a true friend and fan!!

Margi and Lisa in 1995/96?!

 

 

Laughing, Crying and Eating Cupcakes

Remaining in the positive when you are in a red zone is flat out hard. Getting people in the seats is rough right now. Someone brilliant once told me that we are our own cheerleaders. If we do not believe in ourselves, if we do not push to be our best, even better, at any given point in time, then who will? That has been a through line in our story as of late and it should not hold this segment of our tight knit community down.  

We spend the majority of our time grueling to make ends meet, to pay our rent, and attempt to pretend that we have social lives. Truth, the majority of our social lives are spent on a particular hardwood floor surrounded by mirrors and red brick walls. We come to laugh, cry and most importantly, eat cupcakes. We energize the space with creative movement, singing and dancing, yes. We come to this space to be free, to connect, to breathe. The hours we set aside for “me” time are spent with each other and that, for me in itself, is comforting.

This group is and always will be my second family. We spend hours that turn into years building upon these relationships. We meet to create bonds that strengthen loose ends. This is why our movement invention and connections are rich on the dance floor. We own man-handling bodies and shifting through space. We are fierce, strong women who can pick each other up physically and emotionally. We strive for vulnerability and let each other see it. Being exposed and honest is what makes a true artist; throwing yourself out in front of others, waiting to be judged. We roll rawness right out of our bodies in hopes of moving our viewers.

We are not always actors, we do not always have to portray certain feelings – we get do that enough at our day jobs. Having the ability to share our stories, events we lived and experienced – when we have the courage to tell those stories is what makes what we do real. Being there for each other, physically and emotionally, gets me kicking. It makes me feel alive, proud and happy to be doing what TDC does best. Every dancer should be prepared for anything and I always want just that. I just realized in my own truth, that I always had. 

Holding Ground will be presented at Links Hall on October 31, November 1 and 2 at 7:00pm.  For tickets go to: www.linkshall.org

Submitted by TDC dancer Katie Petrunich on Thursday, October 23, 2014.