10 Questions

Each artist on our fall season was asked to answer the same 10 questions as briefly and as honestly as possible.

Below are jill sigman's answers:

1. Who or what is your greatest artistic influence?

Mehanata, old musicals, Marina Abramovic, and Hmong shamans. I have been influenced by visual artists working at the edge of performance—people like Sophie Calle, Janet Cardiff, Cindy Sherman. I was influenced profoundly by Jim May who made me into a modern dancer when I was still a bunhead.

2. Where do you rehearse?

In a small visual arts studio in Bushwick.

3. How to you earn your keep?

Teaching dance, teaching performance theory, working as a grantwriter and development consultant for other arts organizations.

4. Are you certified in anything?

I have a Ph.D. in analytic philosophy; I suppose that counts as certification. I also passed Advanced Lifesaving. :)

5. Where was your most memorable performance?

In a women's center in Zagreb, Croatia for a mixed audience that included refugees from Vukovar who had never seen contemporary dance.

6. What was the last great thing you’ve seen?

William Forsythe's piece about the war.

7. What is your cell phone ring tone?

I hate cell phones.

8. What are you currently reading?

Content by Rem Koolhaas, a book of photos about the Kingdom of Mustang, and The Routledge Reader of Politics and Performance.

9. Who would win in a fight between Merce Cunningham and Paul Taylor?

Merce, without a doubt.

10. If you press shuffle on your ipod what is the first song that plays?

I don't have an ipod. I am a medieval.