“It makes me feel completely alive and free to be fully myself.”
University of Oregon School of Music and Dance undergraduate, Hannah Voigt, discovered her passion for dance at the age of 10. She pursued the art form after watching her twin sister’s mesmerizing performance in a dance recital. “I saw her on stage, and I thought, ‘I want to do that!’” Hannah recalled.
Hannah with her twin sister, Zoey.
Dance not only provided creative expression but also an escape from everyday life, from the bullying she experienced at school. “When I stepped onto the dance floor, I put all of that aside and focused on the present moment.” She fell in love, never missing a day of class. In her teen years, she knew she would pursue dance professionally.
Journey to SOMD
A Roseburg, Oregon native, Hannah wanted to audition for a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program, but one did not exist in Oregon at the time. She enrolled in a BFA program at a different school, but soon after, the SOMD launched its own BFA Dance program. Hannah did some research and learned the school fostered a close community and provided a safe and supportive space. She jumped at the opportunity to audition and enrolled in Spring of 2022. “When I started at the SOMD, there was a lot of positive energy and a lot of really, really nice people in the department,” she said.
The Support
For Hannah, the scars of bullying in her early childhood linger. But the love and support from the SOMD dance community have provided the space and freedom for her to be herself.
“They recognize how I can be insecure, how I can overthink a lot of things, and how I get nervous about what people think of me,” she explained. “That's something I have always struggled with because I have always been a people pleaser and a doormat most of my life. But the people here have been nothing but kind and I feel like I walked into such a positive environment where I can talk to anyone and be myself.”
She has also found a sense of belonging in the breakdancing club, Flock Rock, at UO. She says attending and competing in dance battles has taught her a lot, and it has also fully immersed her in the Oregon dance community. “I have gained a huge community, one that’s bigger than I thought I ever would have,” she said. “It has been a fun, incredible journey. I have made connections I won’t ever lose.”
Hannah poses with members of Flock Rock at a dance battle in Portland.
Her Teachers
Hannah is not only impressed with her fellow classmates but also her teachers, so much so she wanted to give all of them a shout-out!
“Hannah Thomas is a light in this department for me,” she said. “She brings this essence of commercial dance to the program which I love. She has fun but she is also strict when she needs to be, so I have learned a lot from her.”
“Walter Kennedy approaches his classroom in an incredibly fun, light, and easygoing way,” she said. “We are disciplined when we needed to be, but we also feel comfortable coming in.”
“Shannon Mockli is nothing but supportive and encouraging,” she smiled. “In improv class, she shows everything with her movement in her body before we even get started, and that helps me feel like I can get out of my comfort zone with no judgement.”
“Rita Honka pushes me in all my classes, and I appreciate her for the growth,” Hannah said. “Her anatomy knowledge has helped me with my alignment and posture, which has completely changed my dancing.”
“Dr. Habib Iddrisu is outstanding!” she exclaimed. “He brings this positive energy and light into the room when we walk in. I am honored to take his class.”
“Brad Garner, Florabelle Moses, and Christian Cherry help me grow in my technique and knowledge of the history of the styles they teach,” she said.
The Future
Hannah’s next stop will be either Los Angeles or New York City. She plans to audition, take classes, attend workshops, and get invested in the industry. “I want to be as versatile a dancer as possible, so I am willing to go into any dance field, whether that means performing on cruise ships or working for a dance company. I just want to grow and progress and learn as much as I can.”
Her future dream job is to work with an artist as a backup dancer in music videos or dance for Cirque du Soleil.