We were lucky to catch up with Nieya Amezquita recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nieya , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

After creating dance works as an independent choreographer in the Minneapolis community for over three years, I decided to venture into my biggest project yet! This year Amez Dance was created by me to connect artists in collaborative performances while invoking conversations about the human experience in our current society. Amez Dance will become a hub of artistic experimentation to push the boundaries of art and expand how the arts can change and develop our community. Amez Dance also strives to build an environment where dancers feel encouraged and respected while they take risks, which includes compensating them financially so they can make a livable wage from their artistic practice. This project is so meaningful and impactful to me because it marks the beginning of something bigger than myself.

I am honored to have been selected by the Southern Theater Partnership Program which supports emerging artists and unrepresented stories by offering a venue at a significantly discounted rate and the opportunity to build an audience. Because of this amazing opportunity, Amez Dance will premiere its first evening length production in June 2024 at the Southern Theater.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Originally from Decatur, GA, I trained at the DanceMakers of Atlanta under the guidance of Lynise and Denise Heard. In order to be a versatile dancer, she trained in ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, pointe, tap, and musical theater for the majority of my childhood.
In 2019, I went on to graduate from the University of Georgia with a BFA in Dance and a BS in Psychology. During my time at UGA, I became a founding company member of both CADE:NCE and Linds&Co. These companies gave me the opportunity to perform nationally and internationally including the American College Dance Association (Florida), Rettleford Nex Conference (Jamaica), Collegium for African Diaspora (North Carolina), and the Brooklyn Academy of Music (New York). After graduation, I studied in Cascais, Portugal in Gaga technique and choreographic creation.

​Currently, I am dancing professionally in Minneapolis where I perform with Threads Dance Project and Rhythmically Speaking Dance. I have also worked with Alexandra Bodnarchuk Dance Projects, Yuki Tokuda, Off Leash Area and Concerto Dance. In addition to performing, I am an independent choreographer who recently created contemporary works for Ballet Co.Laboratory, the Blackness Is…arts festival produced by the Guthrie Theater, Threads Dance Project and Alternative Motion Project. My work have been rooted in the intersection of psychology and dance. I use modern and contemporary movements to create an avenue to further understanding humanity. I love making art that makes us question how we think love, think, feel and navigate relationships. This research led me to founding Amez Dance which will house my dance productions and the works that use dance as an artistic medium to explore, understand and create conversations about human psychological concepts while emphasizing vulnerability and authenticity.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to release the notion that dance is meant to be this cut throat world in which everyone is only looking out for themselves.

I come from a competitive dance background meaning I was constantly competing against other dancers for scholarships, trophies, attention and validation, but after going to college and then jumping into the professional world, I quickly learned that relationships are EVERYTHING. I can not tell you how many jobs and dance opportunities I have gotten just because someone in the right room recommended me.
Dancers are not in this alone. We have community, relationships and connections that are here to help and support us, not just compete with us. One of the main reasons I found success in this industry is because I have experienced so many generous people willing to offer advice and pass along resources that will assist me in my career. I have mentors that have been where I am and peers that are on the same journey as me in this moment and we lean on each other. To me, being a creative is about collaborations and building something together rather than alone.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I learned more about the business side of the dance industry earlier in my journey. As I start producing my own works, I am being thrown into the world of fundraising, grant writing and cultivating donor relationships which are all necessary skills needed to fund the arts. The earlier I could have been given the information and tools, the more comfortable I would feel now as I build Amez Dance.

Even if a dancer does not plan on producing or choreographing during their career, I think it would still be useful to know what needs to happen behind the scenes in order for us to be able to do our job on stage. I encourage creatives to be curious about the business and find ways to learn what happens on the other side so we are well rounded people in the industry. Being in the know about the nitty gritty can help propel your career forward and also help create an even better industry for future creatives.    

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nieyaamezquita.com/
• Instagram: @ni_amez

Image Credits
Photos choreographed by Nieya Amezquita Photos performed by Threads Dance Project and Alternative Motion Project Photo credit: Bill Cameron