BECKY is a percussive dancer, square dance caller, choreographer, community organizer, and educator.
She grew up in Michigan, spent extensive time in West Virginia and now resides in Brentwood, Maryland. Becky has worked with Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble, Good Foot Dance Company and Rhythm in Shoes, and has studied with an array of percussive dance luminaries.
In 2013, she was involved in Wheatland Music Organization’s Carry It On... Project where she was commissioned to choreograph two works under the mentorship of Sharon Leahy in honor of the festival’s 40th anniversary. In 2014 and 2106, she was awarded a West Virginia Division of Culture and History Professional Development Grant to further her study of percussive dance. Becky served as the Artist in Residence at Davis & Elkins College from 2013 - 2015 where she coordinated The Mountain Dance Trail of Augusta Heritage Center and co-directed the Appalachian Ensemble. She became the Events Coordinator for Augusta Heritage Center from 2015 - 2019 organizing their summer intensives. Together with noted folklorist Gerry Milnes, she produced a documentary film on West Virginia dance traditions, Reel ‘Em Boys, Reel ‘Em. Becky has organized Helvetia Hoot, formally known as Dare to be Square West Virginia since 2013. She is currently a Programming Manager for the National Council for the Traditional Arts.
Becky directed her first evening length music and dance work inspired by Appalachia, Shift, with an all-star cast Nashville. Shift debuted November 2017 and it expanded for the 2018 Wheatland Music Festival. In 2018 she was selected a fellow for OneBeat, a U.S. State Department Cultural Diplomacy Program and conducted an artist residency at Basin Arts. She completed her M.F.A in dance at University of Maryland, College Park in May 2022. She was an Artist-in-Residence at Strathmore in 2021, John C.Campbell Folk School in 2022, Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts & Sciences in 2023 and Loghaven in 2023. She is involved with Dance Exchange's Dance On Creative Aging Program, and can be found performing with T-Mart Rounders, calling square dances, and teaching dance throughout the country.
As an avid organizer and teacher, Becky's work is deeply rooted in the connections between music and community. She believes there is always more to learn and is dedicated to creating innovative choreography rooted in Appalachian music and dance.
She grew up in Michigan, spent extensive time in West Virginia and now resides in Brentwood, Maryland. Becky has worked with Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble, Good Foot Dance Company and Rhythm in Shoes, and has studied with an array of percussive dance luminaries.
In 2013, she was involved in Wheatland Music Organization’s Carry It On... Project where she was commissioned to choreograph two works under the mentorship of Sharon Leahy in honor of the festival’s 40th anniversary. In 2014 and 2106, she was awarded a West Virginia Division of Culture and History Professional Development Grant to further her study of percussive dance. Becky served as the Artist in Residence at Davis & Elkins College from 2013 - 2015 where she coordinated The Mountain Dance Trail of Augusta Heritage Center and co-directed the Appalachian Ensemble. She became the Events Coordinator for Augusta Heritage Center from 2015 - 2019 organizing their summer intensives. Together with noted folklorist Gerry Milnes, she produced a documentary film on West Virginia dance traditions, Reel ‘Em Boys, Reel ‘Em. Becky has organized Helvetia Hoot, formally known as Dare to be Square West Virginia since 2013. She is currently a Programming Manager for the National Council for the Traditional Arts.
Becky directed her first evening length music and dance work inspired by Appalachia, Shift, with an all-star cast Nashville. Shift debuted November 2017 and it expanded for the 2018 Wheatland Music Festival. In 2018 she was selected a fellow for OneBeat, a U.S. State Department Cultural Diplomacy Program and conducted an artist residency at Basin Arts. She completed her M.F.A in dance at University of Maryland, College Park in May 2022. She was an Artist-in-Residence at Strathmore in 2021, John C.Campbell Folk School in 2022, Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts & Sciences in 2023 and Loghaven in 2023. She is involved with Dance Exchange's Dance On Creative Aging Program, and can be found performing with T-Mart Rounders, calling square dances, and teaching dance throughout the country.
As an avid organizer and teacher, Becky's work is deeply rooted in the connections between music and community. She believes there is always more to learn and is dedicated to creating innovative choreography rooted in Appalachian music and dance.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I embody a visually and sonically exploratory practice as a dancer, choreographer, and educator. Driven by curiosity, ongoingness, and experimentation, I devise sonic landscapes that break the boundaries between music and dance. Blurring lines between movement and music by stretching, sliding, and pulling shape into sound. Bodies become instruments, intricate choreographies yield sound, and vibrant relationships are palpable.
My choreography examines the place where vernacular, percussive and postmodernism rub up against each other in ways often messy, and uncomfortable. I dig into the vast complex roots of social dance, exploring the trove of information it has to offer. I collage recycled vocabulary together to create work simultaneously familiar and unfamiliar. When meddling with movement vocabulary generated through community dance practices, I find glee in the detail from points of connection and text, to rhythmic phrases and floor patterns. By embracing everyday movements and weaving in moments of repetition I sketch a map an audience follows. My voice is only as strong as those around me and is constantly striking up interdisciplinary, and multi-generational exchanges. Through instigating a practice reliant on listening, responding, and embracing the inherent improvisation present in our everyday life, I hope to curate a space where all voices are heard.
I do this work to ask questions I don't have the answers to. My triumphs, failures and life experiences escort me as I walk into the studio and it is my goal to create a space for others to feel welcome to do the same. I want to get real and share connection through movement. Because embracing embodiment is transformative, it holds an undeniable power that can remind us of humanities' ephemerality.
I embody a visually and sonically exploratory practice as a dancer, choreographer, and educator. Driven by curiosity, ongoingness, and experimentation, I devise sonic landscapes that break the boundaries between music and dance. Blurring lines between movement and music by stretching, sliding, and pulling shape into sound. Bodies become instruments, intricate choreographies yield sound, and vibrant relationships are palpable.
My choreography examines the place where vernacular, percussive and postmodernism rub up against each other in ways often messy, and uncomfortable. I dig into the vast complex roots of social dance, exploring the trove of information it has to offer. I collage recycled vocabulary together to create work simultaneously familiar and unfamiliar. When meddling with movement vocabulary generated through community dance practices, I find glee in the detail from points of connection and text, to rhythmic phrases and floor patterns. By embracing everyday movements and weaving in moments of repetition I sketch a map an audience follows. My voice is only as strong as those around me and is constantly striking up interdisciplinary, and multi-generational exchanges. Through instigating a practice reliant on listening, responding, and embracing the inherent improvisation present in our everyday life, I hope to curate a space where all voices are heard.
I do this work to ask questions I don't have the answers to. My triumphs, failures and life experiences escort me as I walk into the studio and it is my goal to create a space for others to feel welcome to do the same. I want to get real and share connection through movement. Because embracing embodiment is transformative, it holds an undeniable power that can remind us of humanities' ephemerality.
SELECTED PAST PERFORMANCES
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Washington D.C.
Jacobs Pillow Dance, Becket, MA
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, RI
Wheatland Music Festival, Remus, MI
Big Ears, Knoxville, TN
American Folk Festival, Bangor, ME
Mountain Stage Radio Show, Elkins, WV
Hiawatha Music Festival, Marquette, MI
Rocky Mountain Old-Time Festival, Berthoud, CO
Augusta Heritage Center, Elkins, WV
Berea Celebration of Traditional Music, Berea, KY
Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville, TN
Nelsonville Music Festival, Athens, OH
Wind Up Space, Baltimore, MD
Vandalia Gathering, Charleston, WV
Sheperdstown Appalachian Heritage Festival, Sheperdstown, WV
Floyd Radio Show, Floyd, VA
Frostburg State Appalachian Festival, Frostburg, MD
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Washington D.C.
Jacobs Pillow Dance, Becket, MA
Newport Folk Festival, Newport, RI
Wheatland Music Festival, Remus, MI
Big Ears, Knoxville, TN
American Folk Festival, Bangor, ME
Mountain Stage Radio Show, Elkins, WV
Hiawatha Music Festival, Marquette, MI
Rocky Mountain Old-Time Festival, Berthoud, CO
Augusta Heritage Center, Elkins, WV
Berea Celebration of Traditional Music, Berea, KY
Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville, TN
Nelsonville Music Festival, Athens, OH
Wind Up Space, Baltimore, MD
Vandalia Gathering, Charleston, WV
Sheperdstown Appalachian Heritage Festival, Sheperdstown, WV
Floyd Radio Show, Floyd, VA
Frostburg State Appalachian Festival, Frostburg, MD
MUSIC & DANCE CAMPS
Miles of Music Camp, Lake Winnipesaukee, NH
Swannanoa Gathering, Asheville, NC
John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC
Wheatland Music Organization June Music & Dance Camp, Remus, MI
Earful of Fiddle Music & Dance Camp, Mecosta, MI
Black Pot Camp, Eunice, LA
Handmade Music School, Floyd, VA
Ashokan Music & Dance Camp, Saugerties, NY
Timber Ridge CDSS Camp, Timber Ridge, WV
Augusta Heritage Center, Elkins, WV
Wheatland Music Organization Traditional Arts Weekend, Remus, MI
Mountain Road Traditional Music Camp, Mingo, WV
ArtsBank Artist-in-Residence Program, Randolph County, WV
Miles of Music Camp, Lake Winnipesaukee, NH
Swannanoa Gathering, Asheville, NC
John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC
Wheatland Music Organization June Music & Dance Camp, Remus, MI
Earful of Fiddle Music & Dance Camp, Mecosta, MI
Black Pot Camp, Eunice, LA
Handmade Music School, Floyd, VA
Ashokan Music & Dance Camp, Saugerties, NY
Timber Ridge CDSS Camp, Timber Ridge, WV
Augusta Heritage Center, Elkins, WV
Wheatland Music Organization Traditional Arts Weekend, Remus, MI
Mountain Road Traditional Music Camp, Mingo, WV
ArtsBank Artist-in-Residence Program, Randolph County, WV
CURRENT & PAST COLLABORATORS
Sharon Leahy, Jesse Milnes, Roxy King, Gerson Lanza, Kevin Chesser, Kristin Andreassen, Meredith Krygowski, Ben Nelson, Emily Miller, Matthew Olwell, Emily Oleson, Joe Dejarnette, Micah Ling, Anna Roberts-Gevalt, Gerry Milnes, Found Sound Nation, and Erik Spangler.
Sharon Leahy, Jesse Milnes, Roxy King, Gerson Lanza, Kevin Chesser, Kristin Andreassen, Meredith Krygowski, Ben Nelson, Emily Miller, Matthew Olwell, Emily Oleson, Joe Dejarnette, Micah Ling, Anna Roberts-Gevalt, Gerry Milnes, Found Sound Nation, and Erik Spangler.
