Today we’d like to introduce you to Precious Harris.
So, before we jump into specific questions about what you do, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
For the majority of my youth, I had always had an interest in dance. Truthfully, what sparked my interest was the first time I watched the movie “CATS”. I loved the movement that I had seen and watched the VHS tape many more times as I wished that I could move and express in the manor the cats did. I did not have access to dance classes because no matter how many times I asked, my mom would say no. However, to be truthful the reasoning behind my mom’s rejection of my numerous requests was likely because the classes offered at most dance studios were expensive. As a single mother who also grew up in poverty with six siblings, she wants to make sure that I am capable of supporting myself. A career in dance is one that most parents do not see as financially viable.
Finally, when I was creating my class schedule at Grand Prairie High School there was a requirement for a fine arts class. Of course, I took this opportunity to enroll in the dance classes. Through the eyes of my classmates, I probably appeared strangely passionate because I was always making my classmates get off of their phones to learn the dance that I choreographed. I also remember being upset that some of my classmates were not taking the class as seriously as I did, Understandably they saw the class as an easy P.E. credit, while I saw it as my ONLY opportunity to get better at what I wanted to pursue.
I am so grateful for having Kristen Villanueva as a teacher that year. With her encouragement, I created a dance that was featured in the Geepets (Drill Team) Spring show. She then encouraged me to audition for The Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy that was opening nearby. Upon acceptance into GPFAA during my senior year of high school, I finally had access to studio-like dance training and performance opportunities. I graduated from GPFAA in the 2014 inaugural class of only six students.
After graduating high school my mom had me pursue a nursing career at Mountain View Community College. During this time, I was taking dance class at Moving Canvas Dance Space and became apart Gypsy Crane Ingram’s contemporary dance and aerial silks dance company “Pie in the Sky”. At this point, I had a hard time sitting with the idea that my mom was trying to convince me of. This was the idea that I should get my Nursing certification and then pursue dance after and in my free time. I began to understand what I knew to be true in the back of my mind. I knew that I had zero interest in becoming a nurse, and began to understand that dance was a necessary component of my life. With this in mind, I started migrating to the side of the campus that had a dance studio. I started taking classes, doing performances, choreographing, and even auditioned for the Mountain View College dance Company. During this time I was able to obtain more dance training, perform in modern works by Darrell Cleveland, and perform in MVC Company’s Motown dance production.
With the encouragement from MVC dance instructors John Merrifield and Darrell Cleveland, I was able to conclude that my pursuit of dance could not wait. I felt that I needed to do more than take a few dance classes a week. I needed to immerse myself in dance training and remove myself from the company of people who were not supportive. The need to take action immediately was overwhelming. I knew that I did not have much dance training, and without that, I did not have much of a chance to have a successful dance career. Without doing any research, I decided to apply to Texas Woman’s University. Of course, I had to tell my mom. Upon receiving the news that I would be moving out and pursuing a dance degree she was upset by my decision and did not support it. It was difficult for me to handle that the person I respect the most was so disappointed in my choice to pursue what fulfilled me as a person.
Upon acceptance to TWU’s dance department, I moved to Denton TX to begin my studies. I had so much hope and excitement because I finally had the opportunity to train and study my craft thoroughly. Although my schedule was full of work and classes each semester I found that I was fulfilled and developing quickly in my dance practices. Here, I received many performance opportunities and grew as a choreographer. While attending TWU, all of my choreographic works were adjudicated to be performed in TWU’s dance concerts. These same dance works have also been recently showcased in different venues in the DFW.
I feel well prepared after graduating with my B.A. in Dance from TWU. I am currently a dance instructor for the Movement with Purpose after school dance program and Rare Diamonds and Gems dance company in Fort Worth. I have recently returned from New Jersey where I performed in one of my choreographic works for the En.Act artist showcase. Upon returning to Dallas I received the opportunity to be featured as a guest artist at MVC’s Fall Dance Showcase. I am so grateful for the opportunities that I have received after graduating with my B.A. in dance. Like most performers, I have come to understand that opportunities are not always available.
When I am not performing or teaching I am working different part-time jobs that are not related to dance. The benefit of my part-time jobs is the flexibility they allow when I do receive performance opportunities and of course the paychecks that allow me to pay the bills. In between my commitments, I am finding time to continue taking dance classes to further develop as a dance artist.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
One of the small struggles is the comments from peers or strangers and the strange conceptions they have about what a dance career entails. This usually comes in the form of discouraging comments, or the comment stating that a career in dance sounds easy and fun when in reality it is WORK.
Another thing that I worry about is ensuring that I am not burning myself out. It is so easy to do since my career path requires that I do have a part time job on top of continuing dance training. This can easily add up to 60 hour weeks of work, rehearsals, teaching, and training.
Balancing performance opportunities with your work schedule.
My biggest struggle is believing that I belong in the dance community. Believing that I am a dancer. I continue taking class because I understand that due to my late start in dance training I need to continue growing in technical dance practices. However, I constantly struggle with impostor syndrome because there are some months where I am not performing or choreographing and I am just working my part-time jobs.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
As and independent dance artist some of my choreographic works focus on the relationship between dancers and musicians. In most cases a dancer dances to music but the musician is no where on the stage, and if they are they are stationary and do not interact with the dancer. My most recent choreographic work “Her Second Nature…” breaks away from this expectation and invites the audience to observe the possibilities of the interactions between Musicians and Dancers. Audience members witness in real time the inspiration that musicians and dancers give and take from one another on an intimate level.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I feel like the correct answer would be to find access to dance classes as a child. However, I can not say that it is the truth. In all honesty, I think that if I had been technically trained from a younger age I would be creatively limited to the movement I have been trained to do in a studio setting. I fully believe that the movements I choreograph are as unique as they are because of my lack of dance training that would have inevitably influence the way I move and create movement.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.un1quemovement.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/precious_un1que/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/precious.harris.90
Image Credit:
Aniket Raj Photography: The photo of me alone laughing
Visualby_Glory (Destiny King): Photo of me mid-air in burgundy dress, Headshot, and B&W Headshot
Erika Record: All other photos
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.
