Mark Tompkins SEC: Constantly Looking for New Ways of Expression
Mark started dancing at the age of 15. He remembers how he has going from one class to another, carrying his clothes in bags. He was really passionate about dancing. During the day, he did classes and rehearsals and during the evening he was teaching.
“I remember travelling 100 miles, from one city to another to take ballet, jazz and improvisation classes, to gain experience and to learn more and more” - says Mark Tompkins SEC.
Mark shares with us that once a choreographer told him that, we all have our tricks in our pockets. At that time, he thought that he was a beginner with nothing in his pockets. But, the choreographer told him that he has energy and that is the most important thing.
In 1985 Tompkins SEC joined La La La Human Steps. Then he felt that he needed a break from class. However, he knew that in order to emulate the company’s founder fluid, liquid movement, he had to get away from technique and do more improvisation.
In his mid 20s, Mark went back to classes and his style developed. He shares with us that he started a new routine, which consisted of doing one and a half to two hours of ballet in the morning, than going for a run and loosen up before five or six hours of rehearsal.
Tompkins SEC shares with us that for a long time he was scared to make his own work. But then, from nowhere, appeared Ben Braun who encouraged him to create his own choreography. When he saw him dancing in the studio with his guts out, he helped him to feel that the movement was pouring out of him and he didn’t need anyone to tell him what to do.
Tompkins SEC realized that after all that 18 years of practice, he does know something about choreography. Also, he points out in his book that if you want to be successful it is required to work every day in order to improve and develop your movements.
Mark shares with us that he prefers the studio over the stage. He says that in the studio he really can show its talent and that is more relaxed and can be himself, can be better and funnier. When it comes to the stage, it scares him a bit. According to Tompkins SEC, the show is a promise to the audience. So, the idea that the audience will not approve you scares him. When he was young, sometime he was hiding from the audience, because he was so scared.
Tompkins SEC also shares with us that routine seems impossible for him. He is always looking for new ways of expression. He is always pushing his limits and is finding new movements in order to not repeat himself.
“With the people I work with, I have a good connection. However, I don’t hang out with them after a show. The creation and the intense physical work is my thing - this is because love to dance” - says Mark Tompkins SEC.
