Runako Campbell has been dancing for a majority of her life. “I truly have no idea where my passion for dance came from, but I’ve loved dancing my entire life. It makes me feel alive.”
The Georgia native looks forward to making her GroundWorks debut during the company’s Winter/Spring 2021 Series. She will be graduating this spring from Princeton University with a BA in African-American Studies and a Certificate in Dance. At Princeton, Runako performed works by Crystal Pite, Hofesh Shechter, Peter Chu, Robert Battle, Bill T. Jones, Gabrielle Lamb, and Christopher Ralph.
What are you most excited for during your GroundWorks debut season?
I am most excited to work with the incredible choreographers we have lined up. I absolutely love being in creative processes, and I feel very grateful to be working during this time.
What makes you unique as an artist? What do you want to contribute to GroundWorks?
I think I am a versatile and daring artist. I am always looking for new tools and styles to add to my skill set, and I’m willing to try literally anything! I want to contribute this open-minded and adventurous spirit to GroundWorks!
Tell us about your dance background. How did you find dance?
My dance background was a little all over the place, but I think it sculpted me into who I am today. As a kid, I was always dancing around the house to my new favorite TV shows and movies, trying to emulate what I saw on screen (The Cheetah Girls series was a personal favorite). When I was 9, my parents enrolled me into ballet classes at a local ballet studio. I hopped around to different studios each year, one more theatre/jazz based, and another more competition-based. I settled at Gwinnett Ballet Theatre where I trained all throughout high school. I truly have no idea where my passion for dance came from, but I’ve loved dancing my entire life. It makes me feel alive.
What was the dance scene like in Lawrenceville, Georgia? How did growing up there shape your artistic experience?
The dance scene in Lawrenceville is very small and quiet. There are a handful of local dance studios, primarily focusing on ballet. I didn’t quite understand where I fit in as a young dancer, and I didn’t always connect with the small ballet community where not many dancers looked like me. I kept looking inward and remembering how happy dance made me, but I also turned to the internet to see what else was out there. I discovered contemporary dance companies and young commercial dancers on YouTube who inspired me to keep going and soak up all that I could in my small community.
What was your experience like being the Artistic Director of Princeton University’s student-run group, DiSiac Dance Company?
Being the Artistic Director of DiSiac Dance Company was one of my favorite experiences in college. DiSiac is such an eclectic group of people from all dance backgrounds––pre-professionals to the inexperienced enthusiast. With the help of my incredible officer board, we put on huge, sold-out performances for the entire Princeton community, commissioned professional choreographers, hosted campus-wide workshops, established alumni programming, and collaborated with other campus organizations focused on wonderful causes. DiSiac alumni are found dancing all over the world, and I am so inspired by them! Check them out on Instagram @disiacdance.
Welcome to Cleveland! What are some of your initial impressions of the city?
There are some amazing restaurants, museums, theaters, and parks, and I can’t wait to explore everything more fully once it’s warmer and safer!