Today we’d like to introduce you to Gypsy Ingram
Hi Gypsy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am a DFW girl through and through. Born in Florida but raised in Fort Worth, creating and performing has always been a part of my narrative tapestry. My earliest memories are of singing and dancing with my cousins at big family gatherings. We were constantly dressing up and creating shows we forced our families to watch. When I wasn’t doing that I was singing into my hairbrush while I danced to songs blasting from my radio, fully imagining I was on a big stage somewhere. I guess you could say I always had big dreams. I knew foundationally there was something magical about the performing arts and I wanted to be a part of that magic forever. My mom and my brother were also always drawing and painting – creating these incredible works of art from the vastness of their imagination and creativity. I had zero drawing ability but there was something about crafting something uniquely their own that fascinated me and would later inform my work as a choreographer. It is also where I fell in love with abstract art and the works of Pollock, Picasso, Kandinsky, Rothko, and Mondrian. I was fascinated at how you could look at the work of these artists and every time see something new and inspiring. That idea of continual revelation also informed my choreography and in some ways my future work as an educator.
So I trained, studied, and played with all things dance and theater – pushing myself to be the best I could possibly be. I wanted to perfect my craft while also infusing technique with fun and my personal voice as a creator. As I moved through high school, college, and beyond I continued to perform. Those opportunities provided me the blessing of dancing and performing on stages across the country and around the world. Little girl dreams were now my reality, my dream come true. But what I never could have imagined was that in the process of performing I felt a pulling in a new direction – the space of education. I started teaching casually but before I knew it, passing on my experiences to a new generation became my passion. I loved being in the studio shaping new dancers and new musical theater performers. The joy I got from performing was being replaced by the joy I felt seeing my students grow, perform, and succeed. Teaching also opened numerous doors for me to choreograph. Working as a choreographer allowed me to reconnect to my love of abstract art and to marry that with my curiosity to see how I could push the human body to tell unique and interesting stories where audiences could see a piece of themselves reflected back to them. Now almost 50 years strong, I believe I am just now starting to peak and I look forward to what my story will reveal as I continue to move through this amazing life of mine.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No journey worth anything is only smooth sailing. You need bumps along the road to appreciate the blessings you receive. I have powered through my share of struggles. Most significant to my story is overcoming an eating disorder and arriving at a place where I can live unapologetically as me. For a long time I was ashamed to talk about this part of my history. I saw it as a personal failing and a huge representation of my inability to cope with the stresses and demands of life in the performing space. But hindsight affords you a new perspective and I now understand it is my responsibility to share my story. Perhaps in sharing someone else can find connection and possibly even healing. The voices and the opinions of others will always be present. The reality of life as an artist (and also as a woman) will always have a component of comparison and sometimes extreme scrutiny. Those voices are loud and in your face and demand that you listen. The voice that says you are enough, that validates who you are and who you are trying to become is far too often a whisper. It takes a strong mental game to block out the haters and stand in the truth of who you are, allowing the world to see you flaws and all. It takes a strong mental game to love your self when the world wants to tell you that you are replaceable.
It took me a long time to be in a place where I was comfortable and happy, not only in my own skin but in celebrating and not apologizing for who I was and what I brought to the table. There is always going to be competition in this world. There are always going to be people who are better at doing what I do. I can’t let that shape or change who I authentically am and am working to become.
Because of these experiences, my advice to my students is to always remember their worth. Stand in the truth of your inherent value. Surround yourself with people who no matter what will have your back. Find one or two people who will tell you like it is – who will keep it real with you and will put you in your place if necessary. And, never sacrifice your voice for the sake of others. Your unique perspective and vision is needed in this world. Hold true to that and chase it with all your might. Without my obstacles I never would have learned that lesson.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My happy place is in the classroom and that is where I have been for the last almost thirty years. This year my journey brought me to the incredible Greenhill School where I get the privilege of serving students as the Dance Director and Resident Choreographer. Greenhill possesses a long established tradition of teaching to the whole student while simultaneously pushing them to succeed to their fullest potential. I teach alongside an incredible line up of artists who share my same educational philosophy and I love going to “work” every day.
My work in the classroom truly defines who I am. I pride myself on being a teacher who approaches dance and theater from a whole student perspective. I foundationally believe in the creation of a safe space where dance and theater technique mingle and interweave with unfettered creativity and discovery. I actively strike down the misconception that success is not attainable or that students are unreachable. Instead, I embrace the truth that some art is made easily and emerges freely from the soul of the creator. At the same time, I make equal room for the truth that sometimes, from the greatest struggles emerge the most impactful works of art. In seeing my students as these beautiful creations in the making, I create a space for the possibility of education and art making to inhabit not only my classroom but also the hearts and minds of my students.
I have unilateral respect for my students. I value not only the role I play in educating my students but in the role my students play in teaching and revealing things to me. I dedicate myself to fostering equality in the classroom and in
dissolving the idea that success is somehow only meant for a small percentage of people. I crave collaboration and the celebration of talents and knowledge from both students and colleagues that empower and sustain the work being done.
Finally, I believe my ideals about teaching reveal that ethical considerations are the heart of my approach to teaching and as such fuel an environment in which respect for people and the process of learning can thrive. I fully realize that stress in our students is at an all-time high. As a result, it is even more crucial that Social Emotional Learning be at the forefront of how I teach and engage with my students. Content specific learning stays my priority, but I must lead from a place of compassion and of equipping my students with more than just technique and skills. I teach students to recognize and handle stress, to retake ownership and accountability for their actions, how to recognize and celebrate their successes and how to interact and engage with one another so they build up instead of tear down.
I guess you could say I am obsessed with being a teacher. It is the best job in the world. My students and colleagues are the best and I hope I can do this till my dancing legs give out for good!
What were you like growing up?
My growing up years really were pretty awesome. I grew up in a home where family was extremely important. My parents were always very supportive of anything my brother and I wanted to do or try. They encouraged us to chase our dreams and to believe that anything was possible if we worked hard and believed in ourselves. While they encouraged us to chase our dreams, they also instilled in us that we had a responsibility to give back to our community and to find ways to use our talents to make the world a better place.
I think of myself as a mess growing up. I was in constant motion. I wanted to go, go, go all the time. I was inquisitive and had a large sense of curiosity. I wanted to learn as much as I could, explore new things, and think through new ideas. I loved anything creative – singing, dancing, acting, or crafting with my mom. I was, and still am, very type A. I got an extreme sense of satisfaction from making lists and crossing things off those lists. I still love doing that! I journaled all the time – a habit I carried with me into adulthood. I could be extremely stubborn. If I made up my mind I was going to do something I stuck with it until I finished that task. I was also a rule follower and very concerned with doing the right thing. I was also way harder on myself than anyone else. I needed to get it right, whatever it was. But, I am a Gemini and duality has always been a part of my DNA. While I loved being around people, I was also equally happy being alone in my room, wrapped up in a book. While I felt comfortable being in large groups or being onstage, I preferred time spent with my small group of cherished childhood friends who made everything better.
I look back at little Gypsy and it is no surprise the woman she became. She, in all her facets, was there all along.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamaduckdance
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gypsy.c.ingram/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@gypsyingram
Image Credits
Gypsy Ingram, Dennis Hevia, Laura Snider Flatt
