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Feature Article - American Theater Mag

Feature Article - Medium

ARTISTS STATEMENT

As a female founder and artistic director in a field dominated by male voices in leadership roles, it has always been my goal to celebrate and support underrepresented voices and perspectives. I believe that every ballet I create is an opportunity to use our platform for dialogue, education, and awareness. I am driven to expand the vocabulary of classical ballet and challenge its traditional structures. I work to spur new concepts that broaden the possibilities of ballet as an art form. I am committed to elevating the experience of ballet for our modern world, fostering a true reflection of diverse perspectives from contemporary artists and audiences. My work centers narratives that have been historically suppressed by ballet’s fraught lineage and promotes unrepresented voices, communities, and identities. As with any mode of artistic expression, I believe ballet has the capacity to negotiate complex social issues including race, gender, and the environment. In addressing these themes through a genre that has perpetually contributed to injustice, breaking the mold becomes that much more impactful.

As both dancer and choreographer, my practice is attuned to the subtle intricacies within form and sound. My dancemaking focuses on precise musicality and rhythm and highlights the unique artistry and athleticism of each dancer. I strive to craft the overall arch of ballets as carefully as the details and transitions within each movement. In recent work, I have collaborated closely with composers to develop choreography and music in tandem. This has welcomed a new sense of exploration and fluidity as musical and choreographic structures intertwine.

I view dance through an expansive creative lens and as a space to nurture personal inspiration into grander concepts. Among myriad influences, my experiences as a mother, engagement with social activism, love of nature, and admiration for feminist icons past and present channel into my artistic vision. As I continue to innovate, I find balance and beauty in ballet’s intrinsic shapes. I see my choreography as harnessing ballet’s inherent dynamism in pursuit of a more inclusive and progressive future for the genre.

Kelsey Campbell

Meredith Lawerence

Kelsey Campbell

Matthew Willman

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