Tell us about your dance journey 

My dance journey began when I was 10 years old after seeing my younger sister dancing since she was three. My earliest memories of dance are of me watching her class from the lobby and trying to learn the steps through the window and going home to practice in my room before the studio owner finally suggested I take my first class, and it truly just made so much sense. Dance was how I expressed myself, how I found out who I was, and how I felt like I finally had a place where I belonged. I could so easily get lost in the music and all the emotions swirling through my heart and body as I moved. I knew this was what I was meant to do. After graduating high school, I began my professional dance career with primarily Odyssey Dance Theatre (Salt Lake City, UT), River North Dance Chicago (Chicago, IL) and Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal (Montreal, Quebec). From there, I began freelancing as a dancer, choreographer, and educator. Choreography has always been a passion of mine and something I knew I wanted to pursue and it felt right to leave the stage and follow that dream. I still find opportunities to perform, most recently with Chamber Dance Project, ISHIDA Dance, and Andonis Foniadakis Dance Company, but my focus now is continuing to cultivate my artistic voice as a choreographer. I have also served as rehearsal director for ISHIDA Dance, and stager for Andonis Foniadakis. 

How were your experiences as a dancer in the dance companies you have been?

My experiences as a dancer in dance companies was truly eye opening and allowed me to really have the time to discover myself in many different environments. I felt I really thrived as a dancer who could dive fully into any creative process or work that was being asked of me, trying to learn and absorb as much as I could. I always had the mindset of a choreographer in my dance career, always wanting to know more about how each choreographer approached their work and process, which I believe made me so open and eager in the studios and why I was lucky enough to get to work with such incredible choreographers. I took each new day and experience as a way of learning more about myself, staying curious to the whole experience of what it means to be a dancer. I loved getting to support my fellow company members both on and off stage, and show up asd authentically and honestly as I could. I was lucky to be able to perform all over the world on some of the most unique and beautiful stages and cherished every opportunity to dive deeper into my artistry, all while knowing it was all about learning and discovering myself to be able to freelance and create my own path once I was ready to leave company life. 

You are travelling a lot through USA as a teacher and choreographer. What do you think about the American dance scene?

I have had the opportunity to travel all over the USA as a teacher and choreographer and what I love about the USA dance scene is the energy that radiates and the dedication that dancers have to their training and education. I think there are a lot of influences inside the dance scene here, while there is also a lot of uncharted and undiscovered territories and potentials for dance to expand into here. I think there is an openness and curiosity to challenge what dance has been for so long in the pursuit of growth, and I have seen a lot of dance being embraced in spaces outside the typical theater presentation, which is exciting to see and helps engage new audiences and people who maybe wouldn't think to go see a dance show. There is an energy about dance here that is always exciting to be a part of. I hope we will continue to explore new depths to art and dance here and ask audiences to find new perspectives in how they view and experience dance. The world is changing so fast these days, and I think for art to keep up with that, we need to always hold on to our worth and value and show why art is essential to life. 

Tell us about your most recent creation.

Currently, I am in Las Vegas creating a new work for Nevada Ballet Theatre. It is my first time working with dancers on pointe and it has been so fascinating to see how my movement language translates to more classical forms and dancers. I believe every experience to create provides valuable insight and information into my process and overall voice, and it has been so wonderful to step outside of what I am used to and challenge myself to create a work that feels authentic and relevant to me and my choreographic journey, while allowing myself to be inspired and influenced by what these dancers bring to the creative experience. One work I am also very proud of that I recently began is titled "Book of Stones" for Chamber Dance Project, a project based company in Washington DC. I premiered the first section of three total this January and will continue the creation in May and June, with the full premiere in June 2024 in Washington DC. I am working with Tony winning band Red Clay Ramblers, who have truly created an epic and cinematic soundscape that is a joy to work with. 

Tell us about the biggest challenge you've faced as a choreographer in your career.

 I would say the biggest challenge I have had as a choreographer was in the beginning of my choreographic journey when I was still dancing in companies at the same time. I found it difficult to cultivate my own voice while still performing works of other choreographers whose movement was so in my body. It was as if I needed to discover two different identities at the same time. I believe it is important to be open and inspired by other choreographers, while at the same time, discovering what my point of view on dance was and creating a movement language and process that was authentic and honest to me. Once I stopped performing for a period of time, I was really able to access myself, my movement, and the emotions that flowed freely through my body to really discover myself. I think it is a good balance of taking all the experience I have had and the choreographers that have inspired me the most to fuel my passion, while also really discovering my own instincts, patterns, and perspectives on what I want to say in the world. 

How do you get inspiration for your creations?

As a choreographer, I am most inspired by the human condition. As a choreographer, I seek to examine and unravel the mysteries of the human experience by way of dance and dance making. My work is driven by emotion and reaction, and becomes an incubator for researching how humans live, breathe, interact, connect, and engage in the world we are living in. I like to take the feelings, emotions, and conflicts we experience and put it through the lens of dance, discovering how to share those themes and nuances with abstract narrative and emotionally evoking movement. A lot of my inspiration simply comes first from watching and observing life, and seeing how to find a new perspective to examine life, whether it be driven by narrative, music, concept, or movement. It is a lot of sitting with my thoughts, reflecting on the world we are living in now, and finding parallels within my own life to make sure I am always coming from a place that I can also personally connect with. 

What do you like to do when you're not working?

When I am not working, I like to unwind in any way I can. Whether that is going for walks with my dog, hikes to connect to the sun and nature, being by the ocean which inspires me so much, or just sitting quietly reading, it is important to refill my cup after giving so much inside my work and processes. I love things that feel like a return to me, a recharging of energy, and to celebrate the simple joys of life. To be with friends and family, to be with myself, and to connect to bigger things outside my own world. 

Photo Credits:

Headshot and Movement 23 by Lee Gumbs @leegumbs.photography

Christian_Lexicreate by Lexi Hunsaker @lexicreate