Fine arts continue to change, blending tradition with innovation. Dance, in particular, has become a powerful medium where movement, media, design, music, and even spoken texts combine to illuminate human experience through choreographic vision.
Gerald A. Trentham, MFA, has spent more than three decades shaping this field as an artist, educator, and mentor. Through pounds per square inch performance, he has transformed ideas into performances that resonate worldwide.
Finding His Voice Through Dance
Trentham’s path to the arts was shaped by challenge and perseverance. “I grew up very athletic in a small rural town where the arts were suspect. The only outlet for my performance interest was high school theater,” he says. Dyslexia made first readings difficult and embarrassing. “I had a reading disability and couldn’t read quickly. I used to get the script early and memorize everything and pretend to read.” Later, in university, by taking a speed-reading course, “I began to read well enough to comprehend, but continued to depend on my tenacity and ingenuity to keep pace.”
Dance changed everything for Trentham. “In my undergrad studies, I stumbled upon a modern dance class, and that changed everything. I didn’t need to read to dance, and my athletic proclivity gave me an advantage,” he recalls. This discovery led to a career that took him across the globe. A four-decade-long performance career has been inspired by significant career accomplishments as a dancer. “I am fortunate that my performances have received outstanding reviews, even in languages I didn’t speak,” he shares.
Leading an Innovative Company
In 1995, Trentham founded pounds per square inch performance to create work blending poetry, choreography, and voice. “I wanted to build a platform where artists could explore new dimensions of inter-arts synthesis,” he said. For 30 years, he has shaped the company’s creative vision as its artistic director.
This year, the company will mark a milestone. “The 30th anniversary gala event is in December. It’s going to be held in Toronto, and I’ll be premiering a new work called ‘Buoyancy of Light’ a choreography on four incredible dancers, each at the peak of their physical and creative prowess,” Trentham explains.
Educating and Mentoring Future Artists
Teaching has always been central to Trentham’s career. Since 1996, he has served as faculty at Canada’s National Voice Intensive, now the Moving Voice Institute. He also mentors solo artists through the company’s Fulcrum Associate Program. “I’m facilitating a group called the New Fulcrum Artists, nine individual artists coming together to support one another’s work,” he says.
Trentham believes collaboration strengthens creative voices. “Helping the next generation learn how to support one another’s art is essential. Each of them is a solo artist, but together they can create shared support for their divergent visions.”
Recognition Through Artistry
Trentham has produced nearly 50 works, including “Cathedral” and “Four Mad Humours,” and films such as “Monument,” “Gravity,” and “Valley of Shadows.” His performances have earned international acclaim for their innovation and emotional depth.
Over the years, Trentham’s professional affiliations with groups like the Association of Theatre in Higher Education, Voice and Speech Trainers Association, and the Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists have highlighted his dedication to the arts community. “These memberships allow me to collaborate with other artists and educators, enriching my work and theirs,” he explains.
Away from the stage, Trentham enjoys gardening and athletics, pursuits that provide balance and inspiration. He attributes his success to a sense of wonder. “Whenever I observe others engaging in something, I ask myself if I could do it too. That sense of wonder drives me to explore new possibilities.”
Looking Forward: Creating a Lasting Legacy
Trentham, although still performing, plans to one day step down as artistic director. “I aim to leave behind a legacy of longevity for the next generation of artists,” he explains. His current projects, including “Buoyancy of Light” and the New Fulcrum Project, reflect his commitment to mentorship and collaboration.
Through decades of performance and teaching inspired by a fortunate legacy of teachers and collaborators, and his life partner, Jeffrey Livingston, Trentham has shown that art can transcend obstacles and connect communities. His sense of wonder ensures his influence and gratefulness will endure into the next generation of essential and provocative artistic pursuits.
