The five things travel taught me: Lucy Guerin, artistic director, choreographer

RESOURCEFULNESS

Our first tour to Paris coincided with the tragic events of the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack. The city was in crisis but our shows went ahead and Parisians showed up in force to make it clear that they would not be cowed. We also had some daytime shows planned for schools but the children were not allowed to travel to the theatre. Instead, we went into their classrooms, rigged up a makeshift set and performed parts of the show. We spoke to them about it afterwards and they responded with many questions. They were some of the most meaningful shows we have done.

WONDER

I went to Kajaani, a small town in Finland, to create a new work for a dance company there. It was midsummer and the sun never really went down. On midsummer night (the solstice) they lit a huge bonfire on the lake and there was much celebrating and outpourings of emotion. Although quite reserved during the work day, my colleagues were full of passion, rage and yearning in this quite surreal, intensified moment.

ACCEPTANCE

My partner and I were travelling from Delhi to Jaipur with a driver. The traffic was intense and chaotic and it felt like we had a near-death experience every few minutes. Our adrenalin levels kept spiking, but after a while it was impossible to keep up that level of fear as we missed bikes, trucks and cows by millimetres. It was out of our hands, we just had to give in.

SENSITIVITY

Camping on Kangaroo Island in South Australia we had a beautiful private spot, a minute's walk from the beach. We caught fish and cooked them, swam in the crystal waters, drank wine while the sun set. Life was simple and complete. I tried to take home some of that peaceful connection to nature but it evaporated in a day.

TOGETHERNESS

Last year I went to Bandung in Indonesia to make a show for a Javanese heavy metal choir. Outside the studio they'd set up hammocks, music, a cooking area and tea and coffee. The choir worked hard in rehearsals, but it was important for them to have this communal place for hanging out. They call it nongkrong​ and it made me realise the importance of slowing down and being together without needing to produce something.

As a dancer and choreographer, the artistic director of Guerin Inc, Adelaide-born Lucy Guerin has toured extensively in Europe, Asia and North America. Her many awards include the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award, a New York Dance and Performance Award, several Green Room Awards, three Helpmann Awards and three Australian Dance Awards. Her new work, Make Your Own World, premiers during Dance Massive at Arts House in Melbourne, March 12-16. See artshouse.com.au