STATEMENT

My role in dance education, choreography and performance demonstrates a strong belief that the arts are directly connected to the experiences of living. The ability to share knowledge is a blessing of our existence and the very thing that comes closest to bridging the gap between individual experiences. I believe in the creation of spaces that support and encourage strength building, risk taking, choice making, and creativity. I am drawn to the infusion of movement with spirit and individuality through the actions of listening absorbing , reflecting and reinvention. Over the years, I've thoroughly sunk my teeth into the process-oriented environment unique to choreography, performance and dance education. Not only am I working intimately with unique and diverse indviduals and communites on daily goals and long-term projects to help maximize their technical potential, but also to refine their aesthetic sensibilities as movement generators, assisting burgeoning choreographers in their creative processes.

BACKGROUND

Autumn Eckman received her formative training from Susan Bebee, Tom Pazik and Patricia Bromley in Atlanta, GA before attending the Houston Ballet Academy on full scholarship at age 15. Autumn had the privilege to perform as a company member of Giordano Dance Chicago where she also served as Assistant Artistic Director, Resident Choreographer and Director Giordano II. She was also a company member of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Atlanta Dance Theatre, Southern Ballet Theatre, Luna Negra Dance Theatre, Lucky Plush Productions, Ron De Jesus Dance, State Street Ballet,  and The Cambrians. Her choreographic commissions include original eleven works for Giordano Dance Dance Chicago including JOLT which was named one of Dance Magazine's Top 10 Choreographic Works for 2012 by Wendy Perron. A recipient of the Georgia Marine Extension Artist, Writers and Scholars Grant, she has also created works for State Street Ballet (Artist-In-Residence) and State Street Ballet Young Dancers , Colorado Conservatory of Dance, DanceWorks Chicago, Visceral Dance Chicago, The Cambrians, Chattanooga Ballet, Kit Modus, The Big Muddy Dance Co., Wylliams-Henry Dance Company (supported by New Dance Partners), Mareck Dance, Gainesville Ballet, North Coast Ballet California, Vitacca Ballet, Washington & Lee University, Stephens College, Western Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Her choreography and research has been presented at the American College Dance Association (Gala selection, Southeast region), Regional Dance America National Festival, IUGTE Conference (Austria), Women In Dance Leadership Conference, Bill Evans Somatic Dance Conference, National Dance Educators Organization, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Bates Dance Festival, Performática (Mexico), Solo Duo Dance Festival (NYC), Detroit Dance City Festival, Charlotte Dance Festival, Blackbox International Theatre & Dance Festival (Bulgaria), Dance Gallery Festival (TX), Men In Dance Festival (WA), as a Finalist of the McCallum Choreography Competition (CA) and with JUNTOS Collective (Guatemala) where she served as Outreach Choreographer in the summer of 2019. Autumn regularly collaborates with composers, multimedia and visual artists including Dan Myers, Anton Faynberg, Evan Bivins, Joseph Venegoni, Robert LeGendre, Mark Shaffer, Travis McFarlane, Tom Andes, Dr. Michelle Gott, Jonathan Marquis and Dorsey Kaufmann. Autumn holds an MFA in Choreography from the University of Iowa. She is certified in the Giordano Jazz Dance Technique through the Nan Giordano Certification Program and in Level One of Revolutionary Principles of Movement (founded upon the anatomy and kinesiology as researched and developed by Ruth Petrinovic and Joanna Kneeland). She is dedicated to sharing her experience of over 20 years of performing, choreographing and teaching/mentorship and has served as master faculty for organizations including Hualien Dance Theatre (Taiwan), Lou Conte Dance Studio (Chicago), Visceral Dance Centre (IL), Atlanta Academy of Ballet and Dance, Alliance Academy of Dance (ID), Jaqueline's School of Ballet (UT), Vitacca Vocational School for Dance (TX), the Ballet Alliance Festival, Open Doors Dance Festival and the Bates Dance Festival. She is a former Instructor of Dance at Northern Illinois University and Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of Arizona and inaugural faculty member of the School of the Arts at Central Gwinnett High School (GA). Currently, Autumn is an Assistant Professor at Kennesaw State University.