We recently sat down with one of our new trainees, Nicole Golonka, to get to know her a bit better as she starts her year with GroundWorks.
GW: When you dance, how does it make you feel?
NG: Dancing makes me feel curious, vulnerable, and connected to myself and those in the space with me. Personally, I view dance and art making as research. Whether this means practicing technique, rehearsing a phrase, or creating something, I appreciate a constant exploration of how the work can translate into my facility and relate to those around me. Dancing also allows me to express myself and my thoughts on the world. From joyful fuel to using outside frustration to push harder, movement becomes a constantly fleeting stream of consciousness.
GW: Tell us about your dance background and dance path, and how you ended up here in Cleveland to be a trainee
NG: Growing up in Cleveland, I studied at a local studio (Dance Dimensions by Jen Naso) and with my high school dance team (Magnificat). When I was young, dance was a way to challenge myself mentally and physically, but I never saw a career in dance in my future. To help with my college decisions, I decided to research more about the dance programs at the universities I applied to. When I auditioned at Loyola University Chicago, I knew I wanted to continue practicing dance and keep it a significant part of my life and career path. At Loyola, I received a liberal arts education in dance and psychology, while also pursuing conservatory level training through the major. I spent my junior year in Rome, Italy through an independent research project with the Opificio Certificate Program in contemporary dance and composition. During my senior year, I attended several auditions, mostly in Chicago, as I sought post-graduate work and opportunities. When I saw that GroundWorks was holding auditions, it seemed like a perfect way to visit my family and gain more experience auditioning. I had researched GWDT significantly and appreciated the values and processes of the company. When offered the position as a trainee, I was overjoyed. My post-graduation transition to move back to Cleveland seemed like a seamless and exciting opportunity for me.
GW: What are you looking forward to most about being a trainee with GroundWorks?
NG: This is such a hard question to answer as I am so excited about each aspect of the trainee position. Obviously, learning from the dancers, directors, teachers, and choreographers in company class and rehearsals is going to be incredibly rewarding. However, I also look forward to learning about the administrative side of the company. From education and outreach in the Cleveland community to writing grants and learning more about marketing, I think this year will bring a lot of holistic growth to me as a person and artist.
GW: What makes you unique? What do you want to contribute to the company?
NG: I am a very optimistic person, which allows me to see and bring good into challenging situations. Long days in the studio can be exhausting, so I think adding some light into the room is important. I also constantly strive to give to those around me and hope to always be there for the GroundWorks community. I want to contribute this generosity and selflessness to the company, as well as bringing light and positive energy into the space.
GW: What excites you most about Cleveland? What are you looking forward to exploring?
NG: After growing up in Cleveland, I never knew if I would return to the city for an extended period of time. I am so excited to be back here, close to family and old friends, as well as planting new roots in the Cleveland dance community. Cleveland has been constantly improving over the past few years, so I am looking forward to exploring some growing neighborhoods, as well as new cafes, breweries, and restaurants. I also love nature, so I am looking forward to spending more time in the Metroparks and along the water.
GW: Tell me a bit about your passion for the intersection of dance and disability and how you came to discover this passion.
NG: I have always identified as an arts advocate and strove to increase arts access. However, before college, I did not know exactly how I could accomplish that. It really bothered me that my friends and neighbors with disabilities were unable to take dance with me, but I was unaware of the growing field until Loyola. One of my professors and mentors at Loyola University Chicago, Sarah Cullen Fuller, is an active leader in the field of dance and disability. My freshman year, she offered a new course on the topic, which helped me further identify my passion for inclusive dance and the importance it has in the community. The following year, I pursed an internship under Fuller’s direction to serve on the host-committee for the Midwest Convening on Physically Integrated Dance. The internship also allowed for experience collaborating with and leading classes for some of the dancers in the Parkinson’s Project through Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Furthermore, I served as the service chair for two years through the Loyola Dance Honors Society, where we worked to increase arts access in the Chicago community at places including Sarah’s Circle, Lurie Children’s Hospital, and public schools. Additionally, at Loyola, I worked closely on two inclusive dance films that spoke to social injustices and incorporated the Chicago community. As a recent post-graduate, I have continued researching, volunteering, and teaching in the field through several schools. Now that my time as a trainee has begun, I am excited to further this passion with GroundWorks DanceTheater