VICTORIA

Artist Statement: I believe dance is uniquely positioned to help people slow down in order to: connect with self, acknowledge others and appreciate our environment. For this reason I aim to make work that asks people to check in and reflect on their actions socially, environmentally and internally. I also hope to emphasize the interpersonal experience that emerges when audience and performers are close in proximity and blurring the fourth wall. As a leader in dance, I strive to empower those I work with by reinforcing ethically sound formalities.

 

Bio: Director of emerging dance organization, VLA DANCE, Victoria aims to celebrate the talents and artistries of Boston through contemporary dance. Originally from Massachusetts Victoria L. Awkward trained at Impulse Dance Center by LuAnn Pagella and worked with Boston-based artists such as Karen Krolak. She graduated from Goucher College with honors in Dance, Visual Art and Education. While there she danced for the Goucher Repertory Dance Ensemble and performed in works by Sidra Bell, Christian Von Howard, Helen Simoneau, Iyun Ashani Harrison, Iquail Shaheed and others.​ Victoria is also a freelance artist, who most recently worked with Shura Baryshnikov and Levi Marsman at Boston Lyric Opera, in addition to Ashani Dances, Attn: Dance, The Davis Sisters, Heather Stewart, Jenna Pollack and Ruckus Dance. Newly appointed Youth Coordinator at the West End House, Victoria's passion for education spans beyond the dance classroom. She has been a guest teacher at Salem State University and Middlesex School in Concord. She continually deepens her teaching practices through her work as a mentee with Cambridge-based Midday Movement Series and United Kingdom-based Alleyne Dance.