Get to know a “couple” of our talented NAC artists
Intro
Two of the most talented artists in our community and founding members of the NAC are long-married couple Fontaine Dollas Dubus and Andre Dubus III.
Fontaine is co-founder and Artistic Director of Exit Dance Theatre, which produces innovative, thought-provoking and exciting professional dance performances.
She is also the owner of the beloved Dance Place in downtown Newburyport, which offers many forms of dance instruction to adults and children. Fontaine’s creativity and devotion to the arts is matched by her husband writer Andre Dubus III. Andre is a National Book Award finalist for House of Sand and Fog (which was also an Oprah pick and adapted as a film). His other novels include Gone So Long, Dirty Love, The Garden of Last Days and he’s a professor of creative writing at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. What they love most is family time with their three children.
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What is the benefit to both of you being artists?
AD: Because we’re both in the arts, there is very little conflict. We both understand the other’s desire to try to create art every day. FD: I suppose some marriages end up with conflict because they become competitive, but it’s the opposite with Andre and me. We support each other completely! We admire each other’s work and celebrate one another's accomplishments.
Is there ever any conflict because of this?
AD: Because we’re both in the arts, there is very little conflict. We both understand the other’s desire to try to create art every day. FD: I suppose some marriages end up with conflict because they become competitive, but it’s the opposite with Andre and me. We support each other completely! We admire each other’s work and celebrate one another's accomplishments.
Are any of your children involved in the arts?
FD: Yes, both of our grown sons are fiction writers and screenwriters. The youngest is also a drummer. Our daughter, (the middle child), grew up dancing, has a talent for painting and poetry, but has put these all aside to pursue her PhD in Philosophy.
What are your favorite things to do in Newburyport?
AD/FD: When it comes to a night out, what better place than right here? FD: Andre is the cook in the family and, let me tell ya, he’s fantastic, but he loves a great meal cooked for him at one of the outstanding restaurants, and he appreciates a good cocktail to go with it. We love to catch some live music and theater too.
Do either of you have new artistic projects in the works?
FD: Andre just finished a book! I was lucky enough to be involved with some virtual theater and dance productions in March, and produce performances with the youth troupe I direct, Joppa Dance Co., but choreography work with Exit is on hold until fall. AD: I finished a draft of a new novel and hope to deliver a final draft, as well as a collection of personal essays, to my publisher this year. There are also some film projects in the works.
