The Journey of the Dance Film TESSEL: Esie Mensah
This month, we talked to the incredible Esie Mensah about her Dance Film TESSEL. As a choreographer, educator, and the founder of Esie Mensah Creations, Esie uses her work to explore healing through storytelling and Afrofusion dance. Her multifaceted artistry extends across genres and regions, leading to creations like her short film A Revolution of Love and the Dora-nominated stage production Shades. Esie took the TEDxToronto stage in 2019 as a featured speaker to share the creation process of Shades and her experiences as a dark-skinned dancer. Her latest short film is TESSEL, a stunning national initiative that shares the stories of 14 Black dancers from across Canada. Esie speaks about the collaboration process and journey of healing that brought the film to life. Watch TESSEL and read how it was created below.
Esie Mensah in TESSEL, copyright Esie Mensah Creations
A common theme in your work across different disciplines is using your art as an outlet for healing, belonging, and identity. How does this guide your creative endeavours?
I believe that the work I am doing is my calling. Everything I engage in, whether it be a show, talk, or rehearsal, unveils something that helps expand my foundation. I am a storyteller above all else and many of my projects are a reflection of issues that I need to find healing from in my own life. I find that my art manifests itself in such a way that leads me to strengthen and understand my relationship with my ancestors. Through my work, I often feel like I’m searching for the truth through the questions that I ask, as my productions are all very personal. I tend to go through therapy-like journeys in rehearsal periods. The guiding question of searching for truth with my work has situated myself to better understand who we are as artists and people. My ancestors are very good at holding up a mirror to society—they lovingly ask me to see past my triggers, trauma, and prejudice to allow me to ask the deep questions. I really do think it's important to seek what we need, rather than what we want. What I do is intense work, but I’ve learned throughout my career that the work will always reveal why it's necessary.
In 2021, you created TESSEL, a dance film that shares the voices of 14 Black dance artists from across Canada. Being a director is a multi-faceted role—what can you share about the process of collaborating with different artists for the film?
The journey of creating TESSEL was an ancestor-led process from start to finish. This was my first time directing a film, so I worked to foster an open-minded format that allowed me to learn and become a better filmmaker. I was reminded how to manage expectations and to mine gold out of any circumstances through TESSEL.
My main directive with this project was to bring (Black) artists together with the sole intention of giving space to have an honest conversation, and then editing the words to become a narrative through the medium of film. Because TESSEL is rooted in the idea of centering artists in their own dialogue, the project gave space for each and every artist involved to contribute. The conversations for the film took place over 2 days and lasted for 7 hours in total. At the time, I didn’t know what I was looking for but I trusted that the answers would come. What does it mean to create from a place of truth? How can we utilize our courage to create a lasting impression with this film? As the director, I found it necessary to hold the artist’s words as if they were my own. I placed the phrases that you hear in the film with a lot of care and reflection when piecing together TESSEL’s narrative. When the artists shot their movement for the film, I invited them to be aware of the conversations we had previously had. Each artist carries the spirit of our conversations as they danced so the intention I set for the film continues.
Displaying diversity amongst TESSEL’s artists in regards to location and style of dance was absolutely necessary to ensure that I didn’t perpetuate a monolith of Blackness. I knew that once the artists and I were in dialogue with one another, we would feel comfortable to share, hold space, and most of all, hold each other up. I wanted to bring together the artists that I knew had the spirit to open these conversations with me. Being Black is different depending on your geographic location in Canada, and therefore each person’s relationships and networks aren’t identical. The artists of TESSEL beautifully display the power of diversity while showcasing themselves in their element.
TESSEL is a film that feels rooted in community, and it therefore connects audiences across Canada. How did you consider making this film accessible to a large audience through the production process?
I am fortunate that the opportunity for TESSEL was birthed from a conversation with Fall for Dance North’s Artistic Director Ilter Ibrahimof. Soon after, Nathalie Bonjour and Tyler Shaw from The Harbourfront Centre came on board. The list of presenters and supporters continued to expand from there. We brought together 19 dance organizations from across Canada to contribute to the process of the film. TESSEL was a response to the reality of racism that is still very real. I wanted this film to shed light on a truth that was missing. How do we access deep and uncomfortable layers of truth needed to move forward in 2021? This requires a level of vulnerability, and I wanted audiences to feel and grasp this message through the film. My ancestors pushed me to search for honesty in a conversation that could not be ignored any longer. That’s how TESSEL found its life.
After TESSEL’s national premiere in June 2021, in what ways did you notice the film impact the dance community?
As an artist, I sometimes feel like I’m playing Russian roulette with my work and praying that the odds go more in my favour than expected. The journey that took place was a blessing. It was an opportunity for people to come together (even in virtual spaces), interrogate, and discuss. I witnessed the film sparking a lot of conversations, just as I’d hoped. It was bittersweet that TESSEL premiered during COVID, as we never got the chance to physically share space with one another and connect with audiences face to face. Community gathering and holding each other up is something that I definitely miss.
TESSEL gave me the opportunity to liberate my voice. I learned so much about myself, those around me, and the community through the process of making this film. One of the biggest learnings I experienced was noticing that I am more capable than I give myself credit for. I usually tell myself that I don’t know what I’m doing. If I listened, TESSEL would have never connected so many people across Canada. Every closed door will lead you into the space that you need to be in (and this is so important to remember as artists!). I’m grateful for every tribulation that arose because it helped to sharpen my craft and make me who I am today.
For more from Esie, find her on Instagram or her website. Learn more about TESSEL through the film’s website.
