A Community on the Move

The art of movement can be about self-expression and self-actualization — but it’s the opportunity to move in tandem with others that most inspires local dancer Alex Van Voorhis. A long-time performing artist, she’s most appreciative of the community that dance — and, in turn, theatre and music — has afforded her through the years.

Alex Van Voorhis

“I think it's just all the relationships I've been able to form within the company,” she said of what is most gratifying about being a part of Sioux Falls’ dance world. “There's also a lot of overlap with the theatre community and dance and music and the arts in general. And so it's just been fun to be exposed to all that in Sioux Falls, and I feel like I was kind of thrown in right away to just a bunch of different connections that I wouldn't have been able to make if it weren't for LiRa (Dance Theatre Company).”

The performer grew up in Alexandria, Minn., and found herself in Sioux Falls in 2018 after attending school at North Dakota State University in Fargo. She quickly found a dance family locally in LiRa, when she attended the company’s annual showcase that year.

“I went that first year and was just blown away with the Moulin Rouge collaboration with Good Night (Theatre Collective) that year,” Van Voorhis said. “I was like, ‘Yeah, I want to be a part of this.’ So I’ve been in LiRa since then and have really enjoyed it.”

In addition to performing with LiRa, Van Voorhis, who worked in marketing for several years before returning to school for social work, has dabbled in engaging her theatre background in several productions at the Premiere Playhouse.

“(Belle in Beauty and the Beast) was a role that I wanted to play for such a long time,” she said, “and to have that come true and be able to be a part of that community in Sioux Falls — everyone was so supportive and loving during that time (of COVID-19), even though it was really challenging — that was an experience I'll never forget.”

The journey to becoming a multi-hyphenate performer took a background with supportive family members and skilled teachers, a truth Van Voorhis both acknowledges and values deeply. With music teachers for parents and a mom heavily involved in her dance journey as a youth, she credits this early focus on the arts for her current interests as an adult.

“Having that foundation growing up, they exposed me to the arts really early on,” she said. “I remember, I think I was about two when I went to my first play and started dance when I was around two, as well. I primarily focused on studio dance then and then transitioned into a competition dance world about in third grade, which continued all the way through high school.”

Alex Van Voorhis performs as Belle in the Premiere Playhouse’s 2021 production of Beauty and the Beast.

Being a practicing social worker in her “day job,” like many working artists in Sioux Falls, Van Voorhis sees her dance experiences as a perfect outlet that she can give herself when she’s off the clock.

“I think when it started it was a way to express myself and relieve any stress,” she said. “Once I got past school and college, it has become more of a way to really connect with others in the community. I think especially with LiRa, I love all the friendships and connections I've been able to make through that.

“I think what's so cool about LiRa is, we all have our full-time jobs that we do during the day and have different passions, but we all share that common passion for dance and expressing ourselves through movement. And so that's been kind of a shift in why I've continued with it, but still has that basis of really loving to express through movement, as well.”

This practice of communication through movement has been a discipline that has benefited her work outside of the studio, as well.

“I think there are just so many different ways of communicating with people and connecting with others, and I feel like just having that foundation of being aware of my body all the time through dance and movement, I’m maybe a little bit more attuned to body language when I'm talking to people or more aware of my body when I'm interacting with others.”

Looking ahead to this summer, Van Voorhis is particularly excited to be a part of LiRa’s landmark 10th showcase performance, including a chance to revisit one of her favorite past pieces, the “Cell Block Tango” from the musical Chicago.

“I love (LiRa co-founders) Raena (Rasmussen) and Lisa (Conlin) so much,” she said. “I mean, who doesn't? They're just amazing, incredible, strong women and have so many different interests and passions in the community, and I just love seeing all the projects that they're working on related to dance — and outside of dance, too.

“Being a part of this community has given me a huge confidence boost. I’ve always been a shy person, and a lot of people are confused that I love being on stage — I’m more of an introvert. But I think it's just a great way for me to express that extroversion a little bit with myself and get outside of my comfort zone. Otherwise, I probably would've been a shell growing up. It was good to have those experiences that tested my comfort and built that confidence in myself.”