GARY CHAMPI
DANCER
PERFORMER
EDUCATOR
CHOREOGRAPHER
I teach, I perform, I create, and I question. I am a dancer inspired by the power of the moving body to transcend and amplify the spoken word. My embodied knowledge is informed by my Cambodian heritage, my investment in Merce Cunningham Technique, and the social dances of my upbringing. This intersection and exposure have allowed my lived experiences to be integrated into many dance communities. Wherever I am, I am invested in motion. I value expression, individuality, and quality of movement in dance. In any style, these values inspire me to continue learning and making. While I work primarily in contemporary and modern dance forms, I also supplement my physical practice with ongoing training in ballet, house, dancehall, and hip hop. This breadth both humbles and excites me.
From my roots within community, I work to increase access and opportunity to dance study and education for underrepresented groups. I reach out, I make space, and I show up.
I thrive in collaboration, working not only with other dancers but with other artists and professionals. I’m interested in how we identify and work together to discover a collective multiculturalism, finding intersections and adding depth to any project.
As I continue to traverse different communities and gather more information, I’m always refining my dance practice to respectfully engage with the movement forms I encounter, working towards cultural exchange as opposed to cultural exploitation. I work to sustain a career that honors my predecessors and invites a diverse group of bodies to join in the conversation.
