Jennifer Wallén: “Thrilling to continue exchange and discovery”

Jennifer Wallén is a name you're going to want to become familiar with if you haven't already. Jennifer will have a big role to play with ilDance in 2022 as not only will she return to the ilYoung cast for the second consecutive year but will also be a part of ’Something to do, Someone to love, Something to look forward to’ by Lee Brummer, as part of our Back 2 Back tour in September and October.

We caught up with Jennifer to reflect on her experiences with ilYoung to date and look forward as she prepares to embark on an exciting year with ilDance.

Now that a few months have passed since the Self Contained tour came to an end, what aspects of the ilYoung experience stood out to you?

Jennifer Wallén: The aspect of that nothing belongs as much to me as my body and how we emanated from that in the work fascinated me. The endless self-discovery of my own art is one out of many significant lessons I carry with me. The simplicity of a simple move and how we can move ourselves to change the room and space around us, just as the environment can change the body. The small connections to big understandings, creating stories without forgetting and trusting all the layers of living power that is already there. The way we did the work and articulated it. All of this made me adore the varieties of effort and makes it a blessing to produce with your own body. And the more I know the more I admire and feel responsible for. 

Jennifer Wallén in Self Contained | photo by AdeY

You've also seen Notice, Claim, Repurpose, which followed your journey with ilYoung, what are your thoughts on the documentary and how it captured the process?

JW: Notice, Claim, Repurpose is something very dear to us. The documentary gives one an authentic insight into what ilYoung is. Having Caroline Hägg with us following and capturing our journey with Self Contained, which she did very skilfully, feels very privileged and it is a rewarding sight watching it with an outside eye. Reliving the ilYoung experience clarifies that everything ilYoung is, is not only happening inside the studio. The importance of finding yourself in an environment where you can be yourself to then be a part of something bigger and the beauty in learning together. I believe and hope it has given as much perspective and perception of what dance can be as it has for me.

Do you remember at what point you decided you wanted to audition for ilYoung again for 2022? Is there something in particular that really made you want to be a part of it once more?

JW: Throughout last year’s ilYoung, I remember having a constant feeling of wanting more, that I could not get enough of what I was finding myself in. There was not a specific point that made the decision, it was this particular sensation that grew inside of me and multiplied for each day that was the deciding factor. It will be thrilling to dance in ilYoung again for 2022 and proceed with what has become an endless exchange of movement, exploration and discovery of art and life. This time with knowledge and understanding I gathered and grasped through last year. Flip it over and around, turn it inside out and outside in, vision it upside down and downside up. Continuing our existing journey in a new time.

Poster image for Self Contained - ilYoung 2021 production

ilYoung is not the only ilDance production you're going to be involved in this year. Can you express how you feel about being involved in 'Something to Do, Someone to Love, Something to Look Forward to' with Lee Brummer?

JW: I cannot help but burst with excitement. It is with great pleasure and gratitude that I get to be involved and a part of ’Something to do, Someone to love, Something to look forward to’ with the ever so giving Lee Brummer and invest more in the work I am drawn to. I am truly looking forward to meeting and sharing space with the engaging cast that will be. I take this opportunity to thank again and hope I can express my gratitude through the work we will commit to.