Kelly Hurlburt
dancer
“The magic moments of improvisation that fall out of time and space are my favorite. I love the dances that seemingly defy physics or laws of nature that leave you with an imprint or a fleeting opportunity to feel alive.”
Artist Bio
Kelly Hurlburt (she, her, hers) is a movement artist, performer, educator and dance advocate based in Columbus, Ohio. After receiving her BFA in dance from The Ohio State University, Hurlburt sought out a performing career, exploring collaborations with artists in the US and internationally in Israel and Denmark. Her performing career has included performance venues such as the Wexner Center for the Arts, Velocity Dance Center in Seattle, Mascher Space in Philadelphia, LaSalle Theatre in Cleveland, and Zichri Theatre in Ga'aton Israel. Hurlburt is currently an adjunct professor of dance at Ohio University and teaches Columbus as an ongoing facilitator of Columbus Contact Improvisation, as well as an instructor for adult students at Flux + Flow Dance & Movement Center. She is one of the founding members of SeaBus Dance Collective, a group of movers who research improvisational practices in performance making. Hurlburt is also on the executive committee for Columbus Dance Alliance, an organization that seeks to unite and strengthen the central Ohio dance community. Kelly Hurlburt is a member of the Greater Columbus Arts Council’s 2023 Navigators team and recipient of GCAC individual artist and resource grants.
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Artist Q & A
How do you describe your art and creative process?
Movement and dance is my art. As a mover, maker and teacher I explore improvisation as the center of my research. I am interested in that spectrum between form and freedom, particularly during real time composition. I'm invested in an ongoing practice of contact improvisation, a form that explores the connection between moving bodies in physical dialogue without agenda. Through a dedication to this practice as well as other practices involving improvisation I have found rich discoveries of honesty, humanity and physical wonder in my dancing, both performed and in class settings.
What do you love about your art and/or art-making process?
The magic moments of improvisation that fall out of time and space are my favorite. I love the dances that seemingly defy physics or laws of nature that leave you with an imprint or a fleeting opportunity to feel alive. There is also something beautiful about the invitation to not hold on to anything too tightly.
Is an improvisational dance performance easier because it's all made up on the spot?
In some ways we need to practice more in order to create a performance that feels cohesive and deeply embodied. Because we can't rely on the consistency of choreography we must listen to each other and that level of connection takes time and practice. Lastly, there is plenty of risk in improvised dancing, particularly while in contact. We dig into tools and exercises that help us navigate the unexpected and create magic.
How long have you been making art and what is the most important thing you’ve learned about yourself along the way?
I've had a dance practice for more than 10 years and during my time performing, creating and studying I've discovered that I'm much more interested in a collective or collaborative creative process than I ever thought I would be. When I was a young girl dancing I always wondered if I would end up in a big company dancing for a famous choreographer and performing repertoire for packed houses. I've realized that without the dialogue and connection and mutual investment of colleagues and collaborators, that dance can feel kind of shallow and 2-dimensional. I love the process, the conversations and "a-ha" moments, almost more than the performing.
What is something that people may not know about you?
Although dancing has always been my biggest passion and at the center of my career, I actually enjoy both singing and acting as well. I've had the pleasure of exploring these in tandem with dance and have always loved blurring the edges of dance and dance theater.