Channce Williams has been moving for as long as he can remember. “I was always the kid at the family function that would just break out dancing out of nowhere.”
The St. Louis native is excited to be making his GroundWorks debut and have dance be a constant in life again. Channce graduated from Point Park University, where he received his BFA in modern. During his time at Point Park, Channce was fortunate to be able to perform both new and restaged works by a myriad of choreographers, including Kyle Abraham, Sidra Bell, Aszure Barton, Martha Nichols and José Limón.
What are you most excited for during your GroundWorks debut season?
Honestly, I’m just excited to be able to dance and create. This past year has been riddled with so many unknowns, and I just feel super fortunate to have dance be a constant in my life again.
Tell us about your dance background. How did you find dance?
For as long I can remember, I have always loved to move. I was always the kid at the family function that would just break out dancing out of nowhere. When I was a teenager, I made the decision to audition for the dance program at a local performing arts high school and just fell in love.
What makes you unique as an artist?
I think what makes me unique as an artist is my intuitiveness when it comes to dissecting and organizing movement, whether it be a set phrase, improvisation or something in between. I always try to allow my gut instinct to inform my choices, both inside and outside the studio, and I’m a firm believer that your intuition is never wrong, so I really try to tap into that and follow it as honestly as possible.
Throughout your time as a dancer, who has been the most influential choreographer you have worked with and why?
The most influential choreographer that I’ve worked with would have to be Martha Nichols. What made her work so special to me was her approach to facilitating a process and placing priority not on the end product, but the experience itself. She treated everyone in the room with the utmost respect and integrity and had a deep appreciation for what we all brought to the table, both physically and intellectually.
Welcome to Cleveland! What are some of your initial impressions of the city?
It seems really industrial, and I get a sense that there’s a lot of history here. I’m really excited to check out the parks and museums once it gets a little warmer.