Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Kravitz and Avery-Jai Andrews.
So, before we jump into specific questions about your organization, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Lauren and I began our artistic relationship right here in Dallas at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. After graduating in 2011, we each earned a BFA in Dance from New York University’s Tisch School for the Arts. Since graduating, Lauren has worked professionally in New York for eight years, performing and producing her own work. I worked as a freelance artist abroad in Italy and Germany before returning to Dallas to form my own non-profit dance company. We stayed close friends throughout these journeys and began co-teaching and creating work together five years ago. In 2019 we co-produced Mini Movement Fest, a one-day long dance festival hosted at Arts Mission Oak Cliff. After the festival, we decided to evolve my non-profit into what is now Agora Artists. An arts service organization focused on building community and providing an opportunity for dancers in Dallas. – Avery-Jai
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There’s definitely been a learning curve as we pave our way through the non-profit arts scene. Avery-Jai and I both spent many years performing, and it’s been a big shift to take on all the responsibilities on the other end of art-making, producing, and running a business. We’ve found strength in continually checking in with our mission, which is to be in service to the local dance and arts community. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic presented a huge obstacle for us, as Agora was just beginning to gain momentum around the time closures were enforced. We had recently hosted a Dallas Dancers Forum and were in the midst of a choreographic workshop with Mini Movement Fest 2020 on the horizon. Since then, we took a moment to reflect on what we needed and what we thought the community might need. This process led to the production of “Tether”, a live dance performance in the parking lot of Arts Mission Oak Cliff. Now more than ever, we’re inspired to continue to develop and build a strong foundation for our community to grow on. – Lauren
We’d love to hear more about your organization.
We offer: 1) Friday Morning Community Class, an open-level weekly dance class (currently on Zoom). 2) Choreographic Workshop, a process-focused workshop over a period of time for young/developing dance-makers to create work in community with other artists. 3) Mini Movement Fest, an annual one-day long dance festival, and we are looking forward to hosting more gatherings for local dancers post-COVID.
We really focus on the individual. I think that’s what sets us apart from many other local dance organizations. We hope to inspire and nurture individual artists to pave their own way, encouraging dancers to step outside of the traditional company model and explore their own artistic voices. We provide a platform for this exploration and an opportunity to share if the artist desires.
We are especially proud of our most recent project, “Tether,” a live outdoor performance in the parking lot of Arts Mission Oak Cliff (Sept. 24-26 & Oct. 1-3, 2020). We were able to bring together an incredibly generous team of local creatives from the Agora Artists community to make producing in the time of COVID possible. This is what Agora Artists is about. – Avery-Jai
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Hmm. I don’t often consider “luck.” I believe in approaching everything with intention and surrounding myself with a loving community. Both in life and in shaping Agora Artists, Avery-Jai and I are strong proponents of trusting the process and allowing our dreams to manifest themselves. We try to avoid looking at situations as “bad” or “unlucky,” rather turning those moments into opportunities for growth or re-orienting. – Lauren
Pricing:
- “Tether” parking lot performances: $15 – $30
- Friday Morning Community Class: suggested donation $10
- Mini Movement Fest: $5 – $25
Contact Info:
- Website: www.agoraartists.com
- Email: welcome@agoraartists.com
- Instagram: @agoraartistsdtx
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/agoraartistsdtx
Image Credit:
Personal Image: photo by Corey Haynes
Headshot (red): Lauren Kravitz, photo by Ally Hulsey
Headshot (navy): Avery-Jai Andrews photo by Corey Haynes
Dancers on bridge: Avery-Jai Andrews and Lauren Kravitz, photo by Corey Haynes
Poster: Photo by Corey Haynes, design by Mary Ehrlicher
Rehearsal: Avery-Jai Andrews, Camilia Holman, Caitlyn Johansen. Photo by Corey Haynes
Suggest a story: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
