Betsi Graves

Hometown: Boston, MA

Teaching Philosophy: Dance connects us to our shared humanity, allowing for healing, vulnerability, and our infinite creative potential. Teachers must unlock that potential, individually and collectively. Dance is the best medicine! I aim for all of my students to experience the many benefits of dance during every class: physical, mental, social emotional, artistic expression, dancestry, shared humanity, and spiritual connection.

Bio: Betsi Graves founded Urbanity Dance in June 2008, and the company has experienced a roller coaster of growth. Graves' choreography for Urbanity has been presented at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival Inside/Out, Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater, Mass MOCA, Boston's Institute of Contemporary Art, and venues across New England, New York, Virginia, Texas, and Florida. Graves takes great pride on Urbanity's emphasis on school and community, which touches over 5,000 people annually through it's programs. She leads Dance With Parkinson's classes, training under David Leventhal (Mark Morris Dance Group). In 2012, Graves founded the Boston Contemporary Dance Festival, which hosts 35 contemporary dance companies from around the world.