Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Nace.
Hi Rachel, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I moved to Columbus from Philadelphia, PA where I had a professional career in ballet and ballroom dancing. After some time in Columbus, I saw a need to create an inclusive, versatile dance company in Columbus. Oyo Dance Company started its journey in 2015 with a mission of inclusion and diversity in terms of both dancers and professional repertoire. We provide a professional dance opportunity that focuses on both physical and emotional wellness, and we welcome dancers of all backgrounds, ages, and body types. We began with two productions per season and have since expanded to five, including a show specifically for children and families. We promote emotional health in our dancers and are accepting of all body types. We started with two productions per season and have grown to five. We have a show specifically for children and families that features dancers from the community as well as our Company dancers. The remaining shows vary in theme but have social justice and artistic excellence as foundational principles. We believe that the arts are an opportunity to encourage dialogue around important issues and to create experiences that honor our shared humanity.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has definitely been a challenging journey! People are always a little bit hesitant to try something new, and often they assume that our shows are going to be a full performance of a single style of dance. New audience members remark that they love the variety and are excited to see another show! The COVID crisis has hit us hard because we were unable to do in-person shows for more than a year, and a large portion of our revenue comes from ticket sales. We got creative and resourceful and were able to avoid laying off our artists while creating art in different ways. While we are excited to get back to performing in person, the limits on the number of audience members we can safely accommodate mean that we are still performing in non-traditional spaces. Our audience members have been very supportive during this difficult time, and we are so happy to see them in person again!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Oyo Dance Company is about acceptance, grace, and journeys. Most dance companies want to present beautiful art for people to enjoy. Often, though, individual dancers and their unique skills and gifts can be overlooked in an effort to achieve a certain look or to meet a choreographer’s requirement for a piece. We work with choreographers, teachers, and guest artists that support our philosophy and allow our dancers’ talents and emotions to really show. Creating an environment in which dancers can feel secure and able to open up and be their authentic selves enables us to create some truly stunning pieces. Growing up in the dance world, I was constantly ridiculed for my weight and was actively encouraged to develop an eating disorder so that I could maintain a body that met an impossible aesthetic standard. I struggled a lot with both my physical and mental health and was never able to really open up and be raw and vulnerable as a dancer. When I began working on creating a company, I was determined to create space where dancers were free to come as they were and where they felt like they were a complete and wonderful body and soul.
What are your plans for the future?
I am excited to find our footing as we move back into theaters! I look forward to taking our shows to some other cities and areas in the next few years and to growing our presence here in Columbus. We would also love to bring the arts out into the community and to unexpected places so that dance can be accessible to a wider audience. On a broader scale, I very much hope to see a time where the arts are more valued by society at large. Artists provide essential services to the community and work very hard to create beautiful, thought-provoking experiences for people. The arts truly bring us together!
Contact Info:
- Email: president@oyodancecompany.org
- Website: www.oyodancecompany.org
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/oyodancecompany
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/oyodancecompany
- Other: www.inspirationtomovement.com
Image Credits
All photographs by Tom Wehrung
