Today we’d like to introduce you to Mallory Gittemeier.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started taking dance classes when I was 3 and haven’t stopped dancing since. I grew up in St. Louis training at a local competition dance studio. We learned ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, tumbling, lyrical, and even a little bit of modern. I continued my education at Webster University, where I received my BFA in Dance (emphasis in Ballet), and BA Math. Interesting combination, huh? My parents have always been supportive of my dance career, but it is also important to be realistic and understand that it is always good to have additional education in your back pocket. While in college I fell in love with modern dance and aerial dance.
Before I graduated college, I knew I wanted to move away, just not too far away. I auditioned for many dance companies, and finally landed a spot with Kacico, now Kansas City Contemporary Dance. After a few years, I moved on to dance with City In Motion and Gurukul Dance Company, and then a few years later joined a newer company called VidaDance. Shortly after I joined, the director decided to take time away from the company. Instead of continuing her mission, Kirstie Moot and I decided to form our own non-profit dance company. And thus, Kansas City Dance Collective was born. We created our first show for Fringe 2022 and then our first fully self-produced show later that year called “House Haunters”. Since then, we have been self-producing three productions a year, with additional paid gigs and performances around the area. Kirstie and I naturally found our own leadership roles that suit us best within the company and hope to keep growing the company for many years to come.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Overall, I am very grateful to have experienced a smooth road with only a few small potholes due to such a positive and dependable support system. Early in my professional dance career, I struggled with what all creative artists have struggled with at some point in their lives: finances. It’s hard to find the balance of dedicating time and money to furthering your career and training, while also making sure you can pay all your bills. Eventually I entered the corporate world and now hold a full-time position at Mariner. The financial stability and flexibility of working remotely gives me the freedom to keep my passion for performing alive.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Kansas City Dance Collective (KCDC) is a non-profit, professional group of artists who all work together, combining their skills in performance and theater, under the direction of Artistic Director, Kirstie Moot. Within the company, I hold the leadership role of Finance Director. I work directly with the Artistic Director and Board of Directors to make financial decisions for the company, apply for grants, and manage budgets, while also maintaining full-time dancer status.
Something unique about our collective is that members of KCDC also have leadership opportunities within the company, choreograph new works for each performance, and perform in various dance styles based on their individual strengths. When we say “Collective” we really mean it!
Our performance and production style also sets us apart from other dance companies. Our self-produced shows are not just a dance concert. Our shows tell a full-length story, incorporate set pieces and props, often include actors and narration, and incorporate all different styles of dance. For at least one show a year, we invite local dance students to join us on stage. They have dedicated rehearsal times with KCDC dancers where they can experience a professional level dance environment and create friendships with other young dancers in the area
How do you define success?
To me, success is a verb not a noun. The idea of success is constantly changing and evolving as you change and evolve. True success centers around how you feel about your life and gaining fulfillment over personal development. Some days I find success in just making sure I drink enough water. Other days, success is performing two shows in a day. Five years ago, forming our own dance company was such an amazing accomplishment. Now we strive to figure out how many productions we can self-produce in a year, how can we make our performances more inclusive, how many artistic mediums can we include, how many artists can we get involved, etc.
Am I happy? Is my life bringing me joy? Do I feel fulfilled? The answer is yes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.kcdco.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kansascitydancecollective?igsh=bmZ0ZTU4aTdvd3Rp
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@kansascitydancecollectiveorg?si=LAGMqWPBMGTVKqKA
