ABOUT DAKOTA KUHARICH STEVENSON
Dakota Kuharich Stevenson {BA, MFA} is a performer, instructor, and creator in the Tampa Bay Area. Originally from Litchfield, CT, Dakota attended the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts where she spent her four years of high school as a Musical Theater Major studying acting, voice, and all styles of dance. Dakota is a graduate from the University of Tampa (BA-Applied Dance) and Jacksonville University (MFA-Choreography) where she was able to explore her passion for movement through performance, Brain Compatible Dance Education, and choreographic practice. Dakota is currently the Assistant Director of Dance at the Y Dance Academy in St. Petersburg, FL and an adjunct professor of dance at the University of Tampa. Previously, Dakota was the head dance instructor at Tampa Preparatory School, a Dancer/Choreographer/ Board Member for contemporary dance company, Moving Current Dance Collective (Tampa, FL), and Captain of the Tampa Bay Tornadoes Dance Team (AAL). She has been honored to work with local dance companies such as, projectALCHEMY (St. Petersburg, FL) and Poetica Dance (Tampa, FL) as well as professional practitioners & choreographers Jon Lehrer, Bill Evans, Terry Goetz and Nita Little.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I began moving to explore, collaborate, and express human experience. I believe, as a performer and choreographer, movement is able to initiate conversation through critical thinking and problem solving skills that allow the individual to further their understanding of themselves and other human beings within their journey.
My personal style and choreographic intent imitates my experiences and encounters through my journey, as well as those of my fellow movers, thinkers, listeners, and collaborators. The goal of my work is to aid the human being in finding a sustained and conscious closure with each experience encountered by bringing intuitive understanding to reality through kinesthetic expression.
As an educator, I aim to provide an environment that is welcoming to all bodies. My pedagogical practice focuses upon Brain Compatible Dance Education and the availability of choice for each student. I believe that a student and teacher must find a symbiotic relationship with each other to see progress. Each student has a different lived experience than myself and their fellow dancers; therefore, I believe each individual is to be seen as themselves apart from comparison and expectation of previous encounters.
Overall, in all corners of my practice- whether it be choreography, education, or performance- I find myself using movement to develop knowledge, conversation, and community.
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