Artist Statement

Dancer, dance educator, dance maker

I think if dance hadn’t grabbed me so strongly, I might have been a percussionist. Rhythm is the driving force behind everything I do, both in terms of what interests me visually but also what feels important to impart to my students. Technical focus shouldn’t be discounted, but rhythm is the vehicle that creates interesting and dynamic phrases and it permeates every aspect of how I approach movement.

As the product of two scientist parents, my world is a balance between the creative and the analytical. I have always been curious about the inner workings of the musculoskeletal system, especially relating to our physical ability to perform certain movements that are commonly found in “codified” dance forms. This curiosity led me to work with a company specializing in myofascial release techniques, and I continue to bring that experience into my personal care routine and the exercises I give my students. I enjoy helping others learn more about their own body and its extraordinary capabilities; through a combination of imagery and anatomy-related explanation, I have enjoyed cultivating that process of discovery in my students.

I am a chamaeleon of sorts. As a dance performer, I pride myself on being versed in styles ranging from classical to contemporary to baroque dance forms. I enjoy the challenge in finding the nuances associated with each type of dance. As I continue to learn more about one style I find it influencing both my technical approach in other styles as well as my teaching of those forms. In addition to performing and creating movement, I have also found a great deal of satisfaction in production management and helping other artists to realize their vision in performance. All of these components as a whole are vital to my being and I am so fortunate to share that experience with audiences, my peers and my students.