We were lucky to catch up with Amanda Harris recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Amanda thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
When I was little I would always stretch and dance all around the house. I begged my mom that I wanted to be a “ballerina” so she eventually enrolled me in the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, my first formal dance studio. I had the gift of studying various forms of dance at the young age of six, including ballet, tap, flamenco, hip hop and African dance. I was always a very shy kid, but dance was my outlet; I certainly wasn’t shy when I danced because I simply loved it so much. As I continued at DADA I grew more and more in love with dance and the opportunities Ms. Allen graced us with. I looked up to the older students who I also had the honor to work with and saw potential of where dance could take me. It was very clear to me even at a young age that I couldn’t get enough of dance and wanted to pursue it as a career.
Amanda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a dancer, choreographer and recent graduate from the Alonzo King LINES Ballet BFA Program at Dominican University. I began my formal dance training under the eye of Debbie Allen at her studio and throughout my training, I’ve studied various styles of dance including contemporary and classical ballet, different forms of modern (Limón, Horton, Graham), flamenco, tap, hip hop, jazz, African dance, and Dunham. Throughout my time in the LINES BFA, I’ve had the opportunity to work with choreographers including Gregory Dawson, Carmen Rozestraten, Maurya Kerr, Laura O’ Malley, Sarah Lisette Chiesa and Anne-Rene Petrarca. I also had the opportunity to work on a highly personal choreographic process for my senior project entitled the mind that races the resonant chest. This was a collaborative piece with six underclassmen during my final year in the program that gave me the opportunity to imaginatively discuss mental health, recounting life memories, and healing physical touch through dance. As an artist I aim to connect to joy, healing, humanity, story-telling, and changing the world through dance AKA using my voice as an artist to address issues in society.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Throughout my college years especially, I’ve learned the value of how dance can tell a story. Working with different professional and senior student choreographers has gifted me the opportunity to see how an individual’s whole self is manifested in their work. I’ve been able to see firsthand how one’s choreographic and artistic voice can be so clear and honest, and be a part of work that is so vulnerably powerful. The rawness of human connection through movement is very precious to me.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
As a choreographer, I hope to create work that is meaningful and impactful; work that will bring light to injustice in our world and soften hearts of audiences. Being fed with such amazing opportunities throughout my dance life, I hope to share this gift of movement with the world, whether that be through performing, choreographing, or teaching. As I continue to learn myself, I yearn to connect with more people through dance and listen to their valuable stories.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Photos by Steve Disenof and Doug Kaye
https://marinsd.smugmug.com/
https://dougkaye.com/bio-test