ARTIST STATEMENT - GOALS - BACKGROUND DANCE EDUCATION
Dancing came to me very late in age. I was a junior football and basketball player in high school, getting ready to become a senior when I first knew that dance was something I wanted to pursue seriously as a career. Dance was used for injury prevention purposes at the time, but still a hobby and enjoyable to do. Junior year in high school I dropped everything to focus on pursuing my dreams as a professional artist. I transferred into a performing arts high school and continued to finish out my first year in training as a dance major and drama minor. My instructors pushed me to no return because I was a late bloomer and also because they saw the potential in me to grow. Graduating high school I received generous awards and scholarships to attend many college universities and conservatory schools for dance. This is when I knew all my hard work was paying off because dance was still very new to me. I attended The University of the Arts, which was one of the best choices at the time for me to continue to train in dance. I wanted versatile training in dance and the University of the Arts curriculum fit my needs. I gained so much knowledge about myself as an artist from attending this university and got in touch with who I really am as an artist.
As the years went by I noticed how the curriculum was slowly but surely changing and that shifted my focus. I had to put my foot down and change gears because I knew what I wanted and needed for me to grow as the artist I want to become. I knew moving into my senior year would be great to just finish out, but I wanted to finish out strong and proud. I wanted to feel like I accomplished something. I wanted to be challenged! I am very eager to learn any and everything dance has to offer me. I am like a sponge soaking up all information my dance colleagues and professors offer me.
I transferred to Alabama State University knowing that this would be a great place for me to grow and become stronger as an artist. I work hard to better myself as an artist. The “PUSH” at The Alabama State University has helped me to succeed and achieve goals I’ve set for myself. Attending Alabama State I took on many challenges coming in as a transfer student not knowing anyone and being placed in an new environment and taking vigorous dance classes taught by my amazing dance faculty. I soon learned my true potential that I have as an artist and was able to tap into that by the push of my dance faculty and other colleagues. As a senior dance major I am feeling limitless, and set no boundaries for my future. I want it all! When I dance I feel a sense of freedom from everything that I have experienced in my life. I dance from my soul, and bleed dance through my veins. As a graduate of The Alabama State University I want to further my learning as a creative performer and choreographer and stay in school to receive my Masters in Fine Arts or further my dance career in a dance company.
Knowing that, I am convinced that applying to graduate programs will be a smart decision to help me further my education in performance dance. Attending a graduate dance program would be another highlight to my success and future endeavors as an artist. I know that with the help and guidance that this dream of mine is possible. I stay encouraged everyday to build on my craft and to become better as an artist whether I am watching archived videos from past generation dancers, companies or even what is happening now in the dance world; or just continuing to sit in the library and read several books of the legendary artist that have past and made their mark in dance history. Dance has changed my way of thinking and has challenged me to really dig deeper in myself, to share what I have to offer to anyone that I am either working with or performing for. My specific interest in dance is finding out new innovative ways to move an audience with the art I create. I have so many ideas in my head and I want to continue to further explore the limitless boundaries or art within dance.
Throughout my years in college I have been blessed to perform work from artists: Gary Jeter, Wayne Saint David, Kim Bears Bailey, Shawn - Lamere Williams, Molly Misgalla, Angela Harris Davis, Kyle Clark, Donita Clark, Robert Battle, Deshona Pepper - Robertson, Ronnie Koresh, Michael Medcalf, Kavin Grant, James Atkison, Waverly Lucas, Nina Lucas and Lonnie Davis. I also had the opportunity to perform and tour with Eleone Dance Company, Delaware Mid - Atlantic Ballet and Ballethnic Dance Company. (Teachers That I have worked with you can find in my CV, Resume). My goals within my career as an artist are always fluctuating because my future is not certain but it is bright. I am very excited to see what the future holds for me as a growing artist in the career of dance!
My goals now are to continue to research and develop new ways to cater to the art form of dance within performance and choreography, to work even more meticulously on my technique in several genres of dance as a artist and to continue to inspire other artist to chase their dreams no matter what the circumstances may be. My dream is to perform professionally for either The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Lines Ballet, Dallas Black Dance Theater or The Dance Theater of Harlem. I believe attending a graduate dance program will help guide me to my dreams because graduate dance programs are designed to help guide dancers to refine their creativity and investigate individual growth as an artist. I hope to gain and be enlightened by a graduate dance program with more knowledge, vast perspectives, and hope to create a safe innovative space to dive into different creative processes to work efficiently with other creative artist. I feel like I am the ideal candidate because I carry the qualities of a passionate, self - motivated, leader, team player, creative thinker and caring as a growing professional artist. I know any graduate program will give me the tools to better my learning and guide me down the path to have a successful career.
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Tagged by
Ralph White on 02/28/2018
