We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Angie Benitez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Angie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I’ve worked on many projects as a multi-disciplinary artist. One of my consistent gigs since graduating from Salem State University in 2018 has been dance education. This past year, through a Cambridge-based dance collective I co-founded, The Click, I have been able to explore the intersection of my passion as a dance-maker and a dance-teacher through leading a program called “The Repertory Experience” for adults of all ages, all genders, and all experiences.

The contemporary dance world is often depicted as thin, white, cis/heteronormative and wealthy. All of which are things I am not. This experience has been so meaningful to me because by simply existing as a teacher, I help question this narrative. I get to create a dance space where someone can come back to dance in there 60s after a thirty year break from dance – or someone fresh out of a college dance program can explore improvisation and learn with older students – or queer folks can experience a class from a teacher who doesn’t enforce the gender binary.

So many different kinds of people take this class – I relish in the challenge of providing a class to people with many different levels of dance experience and many different abilities . Since the rep experience happens over a period of about 8 weeks, I get to see a group of people grow together in their artistry, confidence, social skills, and movement retention.

I love getting to build a community. A place where there is no “wrong” way to move”, a place where autonomy is celebrated.

Class description:
Community Contemporary is created for diverse bodies/identities by Angelina Benitez (she/they), a queer, fat, biracial dancer. The class builds community through movement, conversation, and consent-based practice, and redefines contemporary dance as a space for all people to explore their creativity regardless of their prior dance experience (or lack thereof). This summer, the Repertory Experience extension of the program invites class participants to co-create a short dance film highlighting queer joy that will be released online. We seek to make queer joy visible in this dance experience and encourage participants to grow in their ability to take up space and be perceived.

More info about The Click
www.theclickboston.com/

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.

I did the standard dance at a local studio once I learned to walk thing, but I never thought I would fall into dance as a career. I danced recreationally until I was a teen and learned if I wanted to dance more, I would need to join the competition team. So I put on the makeup, straightened my hair, and donned atrocious tights, jewlery, and costumes that were – you guessed it – NOT my vibe. But I wanted to fit in and I wanted to move. And I loved it? But in the way where you kind of convince yourself to love the situation you’re going to be in for a long period of time. . .

Then I discovered Modern dance – through my studio at first. It was weird and I, genuinely this time, loved it. So when I went to college initially to become a high school spanish teacher, I took a Modern class.

That class led to another… Which led to my professor, Meghan McLyman convincing me to minor… which eventually became a second major for me and eventually became my primary focus in college. I fell into dance.

After college I immersed myself in the Greater Boston dance scene through festivals, jobs, and seeing shows. I did everything I could. And I found myself earning opportunities I never thought would come my way and with friends and colleagues that wanted to support my point of view. Big shout out to Kristin Wagner, Salem Arts Festival, and Dancing Queerly for supporting me with my first paid dance gigs.

I love to intergrate meditation and intentional breathing into my dance work and classes – sometimes disguised as weird noises or vocal stims. I like to be silly when I teach, because that’s who I am. I bring my humanity into class and do my best to question the need to define myself as a “brand” or even a business. I am ignited when I get to see folks discover movement in a freer way and when people learn to make choices to support what their bodies need.

I am proud to say that my goal every class is to have people leave knowing a few new names/faces and that everyone genuinely smiles or laughs at least once in class.

My bio:
Angelina Benitez, also known as she moves + makes is inspired by play, poetry, queerness, engaging the senses, and her nonbinary, biracial life experience. They are a dedicated teaching artist to movers of all ages and experiences in the Greater Boston area; from toddlers, to families, to professionals, to seniors. She also dabbles in visual art: painting, collage, and fiber arts. This 2025 Next Steps for Boston Dance grantee graduated from Salem State University in 2018 with a B.A in Modern/Contemporary Dance and has returned there as a guest artist in residence. She is a company member of Human Movement Project, vital team member at High Street Studios in Ipswich, and a co-founding member of a contemporary dance collective, The Click. She has shared her work at VERSE / VISUAL, Human Movement Lab, Dancing Queerly, Salem Arts Festival, 24 Hour ChoreoFest, Roots and Routes and more.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The first years of my artistic career were intertwined with my partner at the time.. I explored my budding queer identity through dancing with her. We created dance work together in college, I came out to my family with her support, and first debuted in the Boston dance scene with our collaborative work. Seven years later when our engagement ended I had to redefine the artist I had become. I had been routed in our collaborative duets and wasn’t sure where to begin.

So I went into the ocean. I danced on the beach and dabbled in polar plunges. I bathed in the moonlight and danced in the rain.

Dancing alone became a source of inspiration for me and I dove into solo work. Seeking inspiration wherever I went and listening to my impulses without needing to consult anyone else. And I shared it. I wanted people to know that I’m okay. Yeah I was heartbroken – but that’s all the more reason to keep dancing.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is coming to me in pieces.

I strive to create communities that lift each other up. Non-exclusive, intergenerational communities that welcome folks that don’t think they belong. With my dancing, I want people to see a body like theirs on stage and feel seen. With my teaching, I hope people who think they “can’t dance”, learn that there is no “right way” to dance. With my art – I want people to have a reaction (whether they hate it or love it).

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theclickboston.com
• Instagram: @shemovesandmakes
• Other: Click Instagram
  https://www.instagram.com/the.click.boston

  High Street Studios Instagram
  https://www.instagram.com/highst.studios/

Image Credits

Runaway Camera / Liam Keane
Cynthia August Images
Nicole Marie Photography