This article is published through our Regional Reporter Program. We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts through the Digital Now initiative.
Rhythm Jewellery creates “gold and sterling silver jewellery that is inspired by dance,” said Tasha Sattler, goldsmith and founder of the company. Some pieces are designed in collaboration with dancers and other artists.
The company started four years ago after Sattler learned that dance-inspired jewellery is typically produced for young ballerinas only. Rhythm Jewellery aims to fill a void in the market by designing and creating jewellery for dance artists of all ages and genders who work in a variety of styles.
“I’m not professionally trained in dance, but I very much feel like I understand the lifestyle… I know what it’s like to be in a creative field and spend all day, every day for years training and practicing and learning and dedicating your life to your artform. It’s hard on your body, it’s hard on your brain, it’s hard on your social life, but you do it because you love it,” said Sattler. “And so, when I found out that there wasn’t anything that accurately represented that for dancers, I just didn’t really think it was fair.”
“Jewellery is about expressing yourself and about telling your story,” she said.
Sattler has been working in the jewellery industry for more than 20 years with a background in designing and manufacturing engagement rings. She graduated from goldsmithing school in 2008.
She described some of Rhythm’s Jewellery’s pieces as “a literal translation of dance” and others as “more symbolic… inspired by movement or creative energy.” All of the metal for the jewellery is sourced through Canadian companies.
“We have our regular line of jewellery, our signature collection, on the website, and then I also design [custom] pieces for the dance studios,” said Sattler. The custom jewellery is often requested “when the seniors graduate the studios…[it’s] a way for them to take the studio with them when they go.”
“The response from the dance community has been absolutely amazing,” she remarked. “People have been really supportive and really helpful. I’m a really firm believer in networking and collaborating and helping others in our community… to grow together.”
Rhythm Jewellery has collaborated with dancers, choreographers and other artists to design limited edition collections. “The way I see it, who better to design jewellery for dancers than dancers themselves?” said Sattler.
“When I do a collaboration with another artist, most of the time I wind up designing or creating something that I probably never would have thought of on my own,” she continued. “It’s really fun.”
“The last [collection] we just launched in November was with Nappytabs,” said Sattler. “They’re so creative and really well established in the choreography and creative directing world,” she added, referring to Napoleon and Tabitha D’umo of Nappytabs. “They’re wonderful people.”
Sattler has also collaborated with her mother, Rita St. Amant, a textile and mixed media artist. “We did a line of silk scarves and totes based off of her watercolour drawings,” Sattler said. “If maybe the jewellery isn’t your thing, a really nice scarf or a bag… is another option.”
“It’s really nice for me to do this because it’s a little bit different than what I normally do,” St. Amant said. “I don’t work with figures and bodies a lot.”
Sattler and St. Amant are collaborating again this year on a limited edition collection of holiday scarves and totes inspired by The Nutcracker. Rhythm Jewellery is planning a new collection of jewellery as well, pieces that are made partially or entirely of wood.
“I am biased, but it’s very nice!” said St. Amant about her daughter’s jewellery. “She does good work and she does hard work. She works hard at it.”
Dance Media Group strengthens the dance sector through dialogue. Can you help us sustain national, accessible dance coverage? Your contribution supports writers, illustrators, photographers and dancers as they tell their own stories. Dance Media Group is a charitable non-profit organization publishing The Dance Current in print and online.
Tagged:
