MSP 180: Tristan Ching Hartmann

Crafting a Fulfilling Life In Dance with Tristan Ching Hartmann

What does it take to craft a fulfilling life in dance? For Tristan Ching Hartmann, it’s a blend of resilience, curiosity, community, and an unshakable love for movement. From her shy beginnings in Ventura, California, to performing with the Margaret Jenkins Dance Company in San Francisco, Tristan’s journey has been anything but conventional. She reflects on transformative moments, including commuting long hours for ballet classes, finding her artistic home with Robert Moses’ Kin, and reinventing herself as a jazz dancer during her time in London. Tristan delves into how her teaching practice reignited her creativity, her experiences taking on choreography, and the life lessons she’s learned from Argentine Tango. She also shares the profound impact of a serious spinal injury that temporarily halted her dancing and how it led her to redefine her relationship with movement. Now dancing into her late 40s, she offers insights on adapting training, cherishing every moment in the studio, and navigating the physical demands of her art. Her passion for building community and mentoring younger dancers reflects her deep commitment to the art form and those who practice it. Join us for an inspiring conversation that explores what it truly means to craft a fulfilling life in dance!

Key Points From This Episode:

·       An introduction to Tristan Ching Hartmann and her unique movement journey.

·       How a childhood dance class sparked a lifelong passion for movement and artistry.

·       Tristan’s deep connection to ballet and her love for its precision, grace, and classical music.

·       The balancing act of pursuing dance while meeting her family’s academic expectations.

·       How Stanford shaped her journey, leading to modern dance and joining Robert Moses’ Kin.

·       The pivotal role of Robert Moses in Tristan’s early professional career and artistic growth.

·       Recovering from a serious spinal injury and the life-changing decision to travel and reflect.

·       How moving to London allowed Tristan to reinvent herself and explore jazz and the West End.

·       Her transformative experience teaching and discovering new ways to connect with students.

·       Returning to the stage with Margaret Jenkins Dance Company in her late 40s.

·       How Tristan adapts training to stay active despite the physical challenges of aging.

·       Tristan’s insights into Argentine Tango as a life lesson in feeling and responding.

·       Reflecting on her love for building community and mentoring the next generation of dancers.

Tristan Ching Hartmann (she/her) is a long-time lover of dance, the Bay Area, and dance in the Bay Area.  She was a founding member of Robert Moses’ Kin, on faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, and currently dances with Margaret Jenkins Dance Company as well as collaborating with her dance friends/heroes, The Straw Dogs.

For more on this episode: Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast

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