Meet Nieya Amezquita of Minneapolis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nieya Amezquita.

Hi Nieya, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I always knew dancing would be a major part of my life. I never doubted what I wanted to do, and I have not strayed from that path. Every step I have taken in my professional life from the time I started working had the intention of propelling my dance career forward. I was fortunate enough to be constantly surrounded by people that shared my dreams and aspirations and, for us, not being an artist was never an option.

I started dancing at a young age in Atlanta, Georgia. I was competing across the country with DanceMakers of Atlanta who provided me opportunities to work with world-class artists like Travis Wall, Andrew Winghart, and Cindy Salgado in all dance styles. My evenings and weekends were spent in dance rehearsals, my summers at dance intensives to train, and my free time was spent daydreaming about all the possible dance careers I could have.

After high school, I attended the University of Georgia and received my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and my Bachelor of Science in Psychology. During my time at UGA, I trained in ballet, contemporary and different branches of the African movement, which eventually led me to become a founding company member of CADE:NCE. This company allowed me to perform nationally and internationally throughout my four years of college.

Upon graduation in 2019, I received my first professional company offer, and I moved to Minneapolis to dance with Threads Dance Project, where I am currently in my 4th season. In Minneapolis, I also have the privilege of working with Rhythmically Speaking Dance, Alexandra Bodnarchuk Dance Projects, and Yuki Tokuda. But outside of performing, I am invested in creating my own work while discovering and defining how psychological concepts can be intertwined with dance. With this mission in mind, I have choreographed contemporary works for Ballet Co.Laboratory, The Blackness is…Festival produced by the Guthrie Theater, Threads Dance Project, and Alternative Motion Project.

I continue to look for opportunities to learn and grow from the Minneapolis dance community and find ways for dance to open the gate to conversations about the social, racial, and psychological state of our society today.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a smooth road?
Of course not! Being a professional dancer is not only intense on the physical body but can also take a toll mentally if you do not learn how to protect your well-being. Dance can be a very competitive industry. Hundreds of dancers have the same passion and drive that I possess, which sometimes leaves me wondering what makes me any different. I heard ‘no’ many times before someone took a chance on me and said ‘yes.’ My insecurities and lack of confidence in my abilities as an artist creep in sometimes. When those moments rear their head, I must remember why I fell in love with dance in the first place and find validation from within rather than looking outward.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a professional dancer and choreographer based in the Twin Cities. My creations are rooted in the intersection of psychology and dance. I use modern and contemporary movements to take intangible psychological concepts and theories and transcribe them into art. I love creating work that makes you question how we love, how we think, how we feel, and how relationships define our identity. I aspire for dance to be an avenue to understanding humanity and the human mind more than we already do. On top of that, my movement is athletic, collaborative, dynamic, and, most of all, reflective of the dancers I am working with at that moment. I am most proud of the artists that I have had the opportunity to learn from. I credit my artistic success and growth to every artist that I have had the opportunity to come in contact with. Without the perspectives and knowledge of my family, peers, and mentors, I would not be where I am today.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The pandemic taught me about the power of community. I saw the dance community, especially in Minneapolis, unite selflessly and rally for each other. I saw artists prioritizing each other’s safety, mental and physical health above all things. Some examples include directors continuing to pay dancers on the payroll despite canceled performances and rehearsals so they can remain financially stable and teachers creating opportunities (whether distanced outside or online) for dancers to continue training. The Minneapolis dance community became a hub of security, expression, and escape for many people, including myself. Dance is bigger than any one person. It is a means of connecting and healing, which was demonstrated during crises in the past couple of years.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nieyaamezquita.wixsite.com/dance
• Instagram: @ni_amez

Image Credits
These images were captured by Nyzier Williams and Bill Cameron.