PERFORMANCE
I work in collaborative creation processes from inception to completion.
As an improvisational collaborative artist, I see the social interface of public performance as both an intuitive playground and an essential laboratory for my work. Working in tandem with a group of inspired individuals fortifies my belief in collaboration and motivates me to realize my artistic potential. Time spent creating alone is confined to a single path. Creating together forges the willpower to explore every possibility.
Incorporating fellow artists', as well as the general public’s, feedback and participation throughout the inception and development of new work allows me to explore ideas that I would have overlooked on my own. These vigilant outside perspectives increase clarity of communication and provide an opportunity for community involvement.
Collaboration with artists across media through experimental sessions that include live music, interactive projection, non-traditional performance arts, programming and video content encourages the flow of creative insight.
Attention to detail is inherent in my work. Every moment in performance is a statement and I insist on distilling them into tangible declarations.
Occurring exclusively in immersive settings, my work places the action within the audience to encourage active viewing and participation. By confronting issues and affording the viewers a chance to choose sides, I craft experiences that break down the fourth wall.
I strive to infuse all aspects of my existence with creativity and intention. Without purpose, what is life?
I develop, produce and perform in multidisciplinary collaborative experiences that fearlessly push boundaries and pose questions. I conceptualize, film and edit moving images for screen, stage and print. I create as much as possible to keep my mind from overflowing.
Six years after my 1985 birth in Charlotte, North Carolina, I was inspired by my sister Kennedy’s array of new clothes and shoes as she began competition dance. I decided to join as well and my lifelong artistic journey began.
Middle and high school was spent at Northwest School of the Arts discovering musical theatre, choir, modern dance and myself. I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2008 with a BA in theatre, a minor in dance and experiences in devising performances using viewpoints, suzuki, kabuki, contact improvisation and contemporary dance.
My professional career began in Brooklyn, New York developing duets and site specific work. Worn down after 2 years of simultaneously dancing and hustling in bars and restaurants, my decision to leave New York City was accompanied by a chance audition with Pilobolus which shaped the following 7 years of my life.
Extensive worldwide touring with Pilobolus’ shows Magnifico, Shadowland, Shadowland 2 and a multitude of custom created corporate pieces performed in venues ranging from traditional theaters to arenas, live television broadcasts to conference centers introduced me to innovative projection work and shadow making.
In between touring I found myself developing my own aesthetic by collaboratively creating and producing immersive multi-sensory performances, co-founding the Charlotte based dance theater company Taproot and honing my skills in photography, videography and live projection manipulation.
Four years in Berlin expanded my creative network, and now, back in Charlotte, I'm focused on starting a family and contributing to the creative community that nurtured me.
