Creative Generation In: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

BY ALI PAVLICH

The Collective that makes up Creative Generation consists of artists, educators, makers, and thinkers from around the world. In this series, we’ve decided to highlight inspiring work that’s happening in the cities in which our collective members live. In this blog, Manager of Operations Ali Pavlich writes about becoming a RACE Dance Collective Company in her hometown of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

For as long as I could remember, I wanted to be a professional dancer. “Professional dancer” typically equates to dancing on Broadway or on a cruise ship, becoming a Radio City Rockette or dancing with a professional sports team - rarely does anyone talk about dancing professionally in your local community. 

Finding a Home

Last summer after finding out I did not get the “professional” dance job I auditioned for, I was encouraged to take class at RACE The Space. A friend from college joined me in a Musical Theater and Contemporary class. I felt a sense of ease and comfort when I first walked into the studio, truly grateful to have found a place where I could enjoy dancing for fun, while being challenged professionally. After class my friend and I chatted with the RACE The Space staff and he immediately felt like a friend. 

He invited us to audition for the RACE Dance Collective Company auditions that were coming up. 

I am proud to say that I was selected as a company member this last year for RACE Dance Collective. Not only did I grow as a professional dancer through being a company member, but I was able to grow as an Oklahoma City Community member. 

RACE works tirelessly to make dance accessible to movers of all levels but also members of the community. RACE has a collaborative partnership with multiple OKC Public Schools to help offer students hands-on education and performance opportunities in their annual performance of the Hip Hop Nutcracker. The RACE Company this past partnered with a local organization, Collective Care Fund, to bring awareness to Oklahoma county’s need for the treatment for mental health through their production of Resurgence. The Collective also participated in various performance opportunities and community events to help make dance and the arts more accessible.

Contributing to Community

One of my performance opportunities as a company member was to perform at the Arts & Culture Day at the Oklahoma State Capitol. This year specifically was important because Oklahomans for the Arts, alongside participating organizations, wanted to communicate the need for financial support to help rebuild the state’s arts and culture sector. I knew this was crucial for the arts and arts education to succeed in a post-pandemic world, especially when household finances may be tight.

Thankfully, the Oklahoma State Legislature approved the proposal allocating $10 million in state American Rescue Plan Act funding to the state’s arts and culture sector. You can read more about the allocation of the funding in this article from The Oklahoma City Sentinel.  

Although I may not have been dancing professionally in New York City or on a fancy cruise ship, I was able to dance professionally in Oklahoma City. Even better, I was able to be part of something that is enriching my community and state, all while making the arts more accessible.