We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alicia Ross and Christi Harris N/A. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alicia Ross and Christi Harris below.
Alicia Ross and Christi Harris, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
Alicia: Looking back, I didn’t grow up as an artist. I didn’t really have access or exposure to the arts as a kid so I never imagined it becoming my profession. I don’t think I realized that I wanted to pursue an artistic path as a career until I was already in it. I was an athlete growing up, and started dancing in high school. I chose to dance in college because that’s what my peers were going to do, but it wasn’t until about my sophomore year in college that I fully committed to becoming a professional dance artist. By that time I was already invested in the work – performing, choreographing, and developing my voice as a creative. Once I came to this realization, I was able to step into the profession and truly follow my passion in dance. I am immensely grateful to have found myself in this field, and I hope to always continue evolving as a professional dance artist.
Christi: During my time in undergrad I was originally studying chemistry, and while it was interesting I did not feel fulfilled in what I was working on. I was taking dance classes as a dance minor and found it much more interesting. After taking a year off from school, I went back and knew I needed to switch to a dance major and I jumped in head first. I truly immersed myself in the experiences that were offered to me and I quickly knew this was where I wanted to be. Once I set my mind to studying my creative passion versus what I thought I wanted to do, I knew that I wanted this to be my profession long term. I was able to get a small taste of the big picture in my college career through performing internationally, choreographing and developing my own creative voice. I found a great community here in Utah to be a part of that is welcoming and full of opportunities to continue growing as an artist that I am forever grateful for!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Alicia: I am the Director of Fem Dance Company, a Salt Lake City based professional modern dance company that focuses on representing and empowering women through performance and choreography projects. As an organization, we work to fill the gap in opportunities for women artists to fully express themselves without limitations. We have produced several full evening-length dance concerts, and we’re currently in the creative process for our next one. Our concerts feature large groups of dancers, usually around 15-20 or more, in order to represent a diverse and powerful set of women on stage. Our work reflects on many topics central to the woman’s experience, and we give audiences the chance to connect with different perspectives from each artist’s story. I started this company to build a platform for freelance dancers in the Salt Lake City community to make work together, and it has grown into something I never thought possible. I am so proud of the meaningful projects we create, and seeing these women embody their greatness brings me so much joy and inspiration!
Christi: I am the Assistant Director of Fem Dance Company, a company which focuses on bringing professional modern dance to the Salt Lake City area. We focus on providing opportunities to uplift and empower women through dance, while also telling women’s stories through movement. We have curated a culture for women to feel safe to express themselves artistically and feel heard.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Alicia: In my perspective, the best way for society to support artists is to keep an open and receptive mindset. Being open to new ideas, opinions, and the experiences of others allows you to understand and appreciate both the art and the artist on a deeper level. Soaking in new knowledge like a sponge, audience members can learn so much from every artistic experience they are a part of. In turn, this inherently shows society the true value of the arts and the significant difference it makes in our lives. With this in mind, it is crucial to have financial support from society to cultivate a thriving creative ecosystem. Whether it’s purchasing a ticket to a show, buying merchandise, coming to class, or making a donation, every amount of support is recognized and greatly appreciated. Showing up for the artists in your community is deeply meaningful and the support is often more valued than you may think. Experiencing the arts enriches our lives, and all forms of support help to foster a prosperous creative community.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Christi: A goal I have always kept in mind through my creative journey is creating a safe space for all to feel welcome and heard. The dance industry can be very critical at times, which in some instances can hinder someone’s voice or intimidate them to not push themselves as creatives. Our individual voices in art are so imperative and are what makes art interesting. Seeing things from someone else’s perspective, or seeing something you may not have thought of on your own before, helps you to understand things in a different light and opens up the path for more understanding and compassion. Cultivating a space for people to feel welcome and safe to speak up or try new things as artists enables personal growth to flourish for all involved. As an artist in the community, I strive to continue facilitating safe spaces wherever I work to help aid in the growth of the artists around me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @femdanceco, @aliciaross_movement, @christiharris2
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/femdanceco
Image Credits
Hailey Caminiti