My persistent engagement with dance, my ongoing commitment to reimagining the role of the dancer within contemporary contexts, elucidates the evolving dynamics between the dancer, creative identity, authorship, and power.
My choreographic practice draws from traditions of technicity (post modern dance,) found actions and behaviors (the quotidian, stillness,) and procedures for expression (improvisation,) to create motions for relation (a dance.) Inspirations include shape dysmorphia, sitting on the verge, and tension without drama.
In addition to collaborating with dancers, my practice extends across artistic domains to include interdisciplinary partnerships with writers and musicians. While navigating the complexities of a milieu that caters to the solitary artist, I believe in decentralized leadership with and without dissonance. This tension fuels my commitment to ensemble work, where each project entails the establishment of bespoke structures of leadership.
Amelia Heintzelman is a dance performer, choreographer, and somatic educator.
Her work has been presented by Center for Performance Research, Lubov Gallery, Movement Research at the Judson Church, Pageant, and Snug Harbor in New York, Junior High Gallery in Los Angeles, and The David Owsley Museum of Art at Ball State University in her hometown. She has been an artist in residence at Atlantic Center for the Arts, Chashama ChaNorth, Chez Bushwick, and University Settlement.
She has worked as a collaborating performer for Phoebe Berglund, Juli Brandano, Jesi Cook, Ayano Elson, and Alexa West, among others. She has been greatly influenced by years of study under Deborah Hay, and is currently participating in the Trio Commissioning Project.
Amelia is on the teaching faculty at Movement Research and Pageant. She has taught masterclasses at Mt Holyoke College, Indiana University, Ball State University, and University of Cincinnati. She rarely/sometimes teaches Comedy Pilates.