Meet Christine | Dancer of the Year | 2020
Meet Christine
Dancer of the Year
Dancers of RVA
I’ve shared my dance journey before, but since then it has drastically changed. I shifted from working as a teaching artist and performer to being a full time artist (an anti-racist, anti-institutional artist at that…) . I’ve been discovering what that is for me: applying for residencies, researching artist grants, mfa programs, developing a daily ritual and movement practice, connecting with other artists in the field across the nation.. Anyway.. it has come with challenges.. but it is so fulfilling to mesh my artistry with organizing and activism.
I spent most of my time in NY and RVA, but traveling made me realize I have artist friends who are getting their dance life in so many places- Philly, NOLA, Atlanta, Bmore, Texas, Colorado, LA... it really broadened my perspective on what I could be doing as a dance artist.
I started to ask myself what do I like? What do I dislike? Why did I choose dance? And what has meaning for me?
I realized I had been compromising myself for some superficial reasons related to success and money.. I really wanted to liberate myself, liberate my body, clarify my voice, dance with black folks (primarily), and get back into writing (about dance and also poetry). I felt energized by this new focus, and my family was supportive so boom.
Since that decision to honor myself more authentically, I’ve premiered a solo work in NY, choreographed 4 musicals/plays (got nominated for an artisies award for my choreo of PASSING STRANGE at Firehouse Theatre, and would have choreographed 5! If it wasn’t for covid), co-facilitated & taught with @mkabadoo, joined @thedanceunion Twerk Team- making me a podcast co-host, organizer in the field, and embodier of dance advocacy and activism for QBIPOC + Disabled folks in the field. Follow @thedanceunion and listen to the podcast on apple podcasts, spotify, or sound cloud you may learn something. As I did when I first started listening!!
Anyway, let’s just say I got most of what I wanted. Mainly: opportunity, a change of pace, new colleagues, LOTS of new information and wisdom. Even though I wanted to move to NY, I am grateful I didn’t.
I have to thank a lot of folks for making this shift possible. It really takes a village sometimes, and I am grateful for mine.
I am completely surprised by my nomination for Dancer of the Year. I was like.. huh???? Lol but I am grateful; grateful to inspire, grateful to be in community, grateful to share wisdom, and grateful to liberate through knowledge and embodiment!!
As for my nomination for BEST COLLABORATION with the Roots Cast of BROTHER GENERAL GABRIEL: That is a much appreciated and deserved award for all of us. The emotional, physical, and spiritual labor we put into the piece honestly surpasses anything I’ve ever experienced before. That site specific and community based collaboration deserves all the love and recognition possible. Again, grateful.
Fun fact: Oct 2019 I put 85% of all my stuff in a storage unit and was living a traveling artist life, exploring the dance scenes, club scenes, and dance conferences in different cities along the east coast.
We are so excited to introduce our featured dancers for the upcoming 2nd annual RVA Dance Awards. The 2020 RVA Dance Awards is a live show that celebrates creativity, leadership and innovation by recognizing excellence within our Central Virginia dance community. This event will be held December 2nd virtually.