Today we’d like to introduce you to Genene Wallis-McGrath.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am originally from a small town outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I was raised by a single mom with one very strong older sister. My mom, Christine Wallet, worked her hardest to make sure my sister and I had everything we needed. I started dancing when I was around eight years old. Before that, I remember taking gymnastics and during that time my mom recognized the injuries that occurred with gymnasts so she decided to see if I would be interested in taking dance classes instead. Little did we know that choice would lead to a lifetime journey for me.
She enrolled me in classes at a very small but very mighty dance studio called Dance Elite where the main focus was Ballet. At first, I was very intimated because all of the dancers seemed more advanced but after being asked to perform in the Nutcracker for the first time I was sold. I continued to train with Dance Elite until I went off to college.
I attended Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a BA in dance. While attending Point Park, I was lucky to be able to perform amazing works such as Robert Battle’s “The Hunt” and George Balanchine’s “Raymonda Variations.” After graduating, I moved to Columbia, Missouri to dance for Missouri Contemporary Ballet under the direction of Karen Mareck Grundy. I felt right at home from the start of my three years with the company. The company provided me with a safe space to push my boundaries as an artist on stage and off. I worked very closely with Karen, the director, and Shannon, who was the resident choreographer at the time, on their new works. I fell in love with their processes and how involved they wanted the dancers to be.
After finishing my third season with MCB, I decided to move to New York. While living in New York, I danced with several project-based companies, worked as a waitress, taught at dance studios, and also did a work-study with a dance studio to get discounted classes. I had the opportunity to dance with Peridance Contemporary Dance Company for one season. I never felt at home or fulfilled as a dancer in NY but I really enjoyed my friends there and being closer to my family. So after some time in the Big Apple, I decided to audition for METdance in Houston, TX where I am currently dancing.
I have been dancing with METdance, under the direction of Marlana Doyle, for the past five seasons. While dancing with METdance, I have had the opportunity to travel and work with amazing artists. My favorite memory from the past five years is dancing on the Inside Out stage at Jacob’s Pillow in Becket, MA. It is a dream to dance on this stage as it possesses so much dance greatness and history. I will forever hold this performance close to my heart. This whole experience was topped off by having my family in the audience!
In addition to dancing in the company, I am also the company manager for the MET too Youth Company, a pre-professional dance company, and the MET ensemble, a youth dance company, both housed at METdance. I also teach at Elite Dance Academy in League City, and The PAC in Spring.
Has it been a smooth road?
I feel very lucky with all of the opportunities that I have had in my career. It has not always been easy finding my place in the dance world. I grew up training mostly in ballet and I also went to school with a concentration in ballet so as a young dancer I thought that should be my goal. However, in the back of my mind I never really felt like I was going to be able to be a ballet dancer because I didn’t fit the traditional ballet body mold. On top of that, in school I was often talked to about weight and trying to shape my body differently. Not until I started working for METdance did I feel like I found my niche and felt free as a technical and expressive artist. I am grateful to work for METdance as it is a diverse company that provides an array of styles within the repertory that challenges me and my fellow dancers.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the METdance story.
METdance is a multi-functional dance organization which offers a professional company, open teen and adult classes, children’s classes, and two youth companies.
The professional company is performing in its 23rd season. The company performs seven shows in their Houston season in theaters such as Discovery Green, the MACTH, the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts and the Miller Outdoor Theater. In addition to the company’s home season, we also travel to cities around Houston and outside of Texas.
In addition to being a dancer in the professional company, I am also the Youth Company Manager for the MET toos and the MET ensemble. The MET too Youth Company, also based at the METdance center, provides young dancers with an intense program focused on preparing them for dance programs at universities and a professional career in dance performance. I have had the pleasure of managing the MET toos for the past four years and during that time I have taught and rehearsed them on a weekly basis. I have also helped implement volunteer opportunities through Big Brother Big Sister as well as an in house mentoring program. This past year alongside Artistic Director Marlana Doyle and Executive Director Michelle Smith I aided in the MET ensemble conception. The MET ensemble performs alongside the MET too Youth Company and trains with METdance company members and staff including myself.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
There are so many concert based dance companies, like METdance, that have had to close their doors in recent years. It has always been hard for small to mid-sized arts organizations to not only stay afloat but also thrive and continue to grow. I fear with the constant saturation of social media and technology that live art will be evaporated. It is our duty as artists in Houston and beyond to keep art alive.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2808 Caroline (at Dennis)
Houston, TX 77004 - Website: www.genenemcgrath.com or www.metdance.org
- Phone: 713-522-6375
- Email: ghmcgrath.gm@gmail.com or info@metdance.org
- Instagram: @neen_bop or @houstonmetdance
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genene.mcgrath or https://www.facebook.com/HoustonMetDance/
Image Credit:
All Photos Courtesy of METdance.
Photos by Ben Doyle
(The one with me in the pink leo is) Photo by Amitava Sarkar
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