We are pleased to introduce Christina Perry, Business Manager of InPulse Dance Company, as CDA’s Community Spotlight feature artist this month. Christina has recently relocated to Columbus. She comes by way of Dayton where she worked for a time in connection with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and South Dayton School of Dance. Her move to Columbus has led her, in conjunction with her business partner and Artistic Director for InPulse Dance Company, Trezon Dancy, to establish a new dance company as an extension of their shared vision. We had the pleasure of interviewing Christina about this exciting journey. See what she had to say below!

Q: How would you describe what, for you, feels most important to your dance career?

A: As I enter different stages of life, dance has played a different role in each stage. Currently, dance has given me the ability to be entrepreneurial. In a field that I have spent my whole life in, I am extremely excited to enter into dance on the business side. Creating a dance company was never something I planned for, but something that I see myself doing. I get excited to start thinking about marketing tactics, raising capital for the company, networking with artists, and working with the artistic director to make a difference through dance. Being the Business Director of InPulse Dance Co. has given me the ability to combine both my loves, dance and business.

Q: What has your experience been so far in the Columbus dance community?

A: What makes Columbus appealing is that Columbus has created spaces to support artists. The dance community is no different. I can tell the dance community is on the rise, and community participants want to see the art work.

Image description: Color logo image of a seated, silhouetted figure leaning backward with legs and arms suspended with a blue sketched circle and script lettering spelling InPulse Dance Co. across the top.

Q: We know that In Pulse is on the rise, and are excited for its growth. What are your next steps? Do you have any plans on the horizon?

A: InPulse Dance Co is still in the beginning stages of development, however, we have a couple things in the works! First and foremost we are working on building our community. We are looking to work with all artists, not just dance, to create works and give back to the community. We are working on our first evening length work. However, more details will be coming later, so if anyone is interested please follow myself or the Artistic Director, Trezon Dancy. Lastly, we will also be doing an outdoor summer class series. The summer class series will be an outdoor dance class that focuses on entering and enhancing the dreamstate. Follow us on social media to join the class!

Q: What are your hopes/dreams/desires for dance in Columbus, your dance or otherwise?

A: My goal is to have InPulse Dance Co, be a leading dance company in the City of Columbus. Columbus, Ohio is a major city, I would love to give dancers the opportunity to dance professionally in the City of Columbus.

Q: What other Columbus based artists are you inspired by right now?

A: I have been inspired by the murals that surround Columbus. During the summer, I enjoyed walking around Columbus to admire the different murals to see how artists are expressing themselves through street art.

Image description: Color image of Trezon Dancy—Artistic Director, InPulse Dance Company—dressed in light colored top and pants, standing on his left leg on a wooden surface with right leg, arm and focus extended to the left side of his body, and lef… — Image description: Color image of Trezon Dancy—Artistic Director, InPulse Dance Company—dressed in light colored top and pants, standing on his left leg on a wooden surface with right leg, arm and focus extended to the left side of his body, and left arm raised upward, against a dark background.

Christina will be hosting a 30 minute Q&A following InPulse Dance Company’s masterclass with Trezon Dancy (Artistic Director, InPulse Dance Company) this coming Sunday, February 28 from 12-1 PM, EST. This masterclass is an opportunity for dancers looking to get to know more about InPulse, including potential working opportunities. The class will be held in person and virtually at Diversion Dance Collective (651 Lakeview Plaza Blvd, Suite D, Worthington, OH, 43285) or on Zoom using this LINK (password: CPERRY). A short description of what to expect in this class follows: InPulse Dance Company brings a new dance technique that focuses on the chain reaction of mind, body and soul. The InPulse movement starts from the inside. The soul causes a surge in the body to lead the mind to movement. In class the mind will enter a Dreamstate. A Dreamstate allows a dancer to express the soul through movement. The dancer can express a plethora of emotions included but limited to vulnerable, strong, sad, enraged, confident, content or enjoyment. Whatever the soul feels the mind will tell the body to move to express oneself. InPulse technique encourages self expression. InPulse technique will provide the dancer a chance to find stability, strength, and self artistry. Class always starts with the eyes closed, centering oneself firmly into the ground so that we may find our truest path through the pulse of life. A suggested donation of $5 is recommended for participation in this masterclass.

The Q&A that follows will afford the opportunity for the greater community to get to know more about Christina’s work behind the scenes with InPulse, as well as what the InPulse is building toward in their immediate and distant future. Christina and CDA share a common goal of building community and coalition among dance and performance artists of the greater Columbus community and we value this opportunity to learn more about how she envisions the necessary tools and tricks for building a new and growing dance company. We hope that you will join us in whatever capacity you can!

If you are interested in learning more about or supporting Christina’s ongoing work building InPulse Dance Company you can check out Instagram, or donate via Venmo & CashApp @c95perry.