Biography
Heather started her training early, before beginning classes with Ballet Wichita artistic director Jill Landrith at age 12. She continued to perform with the company for 11 years and was promoted to Principal in 2010, and also served as Assistant Rehearsal Director for three years. Miss Eilerts graduated Summa Cum Laude with her BFA in Dance from Wichita State University, under director Nicholas Johnson, where she trained in ballet, traditional modern dance techniques such as Horton, Limon, and Graham, as well as Fosse jazz technique, and mime. While at Wichita State, she had the opportunity to perform works by Charlotte Boye-Christensen, Darrell Grand Moultrie, and Shauna Martinez of Diavolo Dance Theatre, as well as numerous faculty works, including Anam Chara choreographed by Cheyla Clawson, that she had the honor of performing at the Kennedy Center at the American College Dance Festival Nationals. Her original choreography, Elysium Awaits, was chosen to be performed in the faculty spring concert at Wichita State University in March 2014. Her choreography was also featured in Wichita State University's Alumni Concert 2014 and Mid-America Dance Theatre's Summer Dance Concert 2015. Miss Eilerts attended the summer intensive at Alonzo King's LINES Ballet, where she had the opportunity to study under Alonzo King himself. She has also attended the Summer Intensive programs at Big Muddy Dance Company, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, Post:Ballet, and Missouri Contemporary Ballet. After graduating, she taught ballet full time, as well as assisted and taught classes at Wichita State University. After spending several months in San Francisco, training with top choreographers in the area, Miss Eilerts decided to continue her collegiate dance training by pursuing her MFA in Dance at University of California Irvine, where she is currently in her first year of study.
Artist Statement
As a choreographer, I strive to communicate to the audience what we all as humans experience every day. From the mundane rituals of everyday life, to the big struggles that sometimes make us feel alone in a world of billions of people. I believe that through dance, we can come together as a community.
I pull my inspiration from the energy that connects all of us. From the science of the synapses that control our bodies, to the movement of leaves in the wind, and even the light of the farthest stars, we are all connected in a universal way. Just as molecules in our tiny bodies are connected to those stars, so the rhythms of our lives are connected in a way that cannot be seen by our eyes, but must be felt through our beings. This is where my inspiration comes from. My constant curiosity in how everything is connected to everything else drives me to create. To show what I am discovering every day and to connect people to one another and the world around us moves me.
It has been my journey to express what we experience in life, from a simple crossing of paths to the complex emotions that come with a traumatic event, with the precision and expert artistry that dancers are trained to use, while keeping true to the raw form of human movement. I seek to use ever more unconventional movement in my choreography, to mirror our sometimes awkward movements in real life. Through my process of creating, I have developed an appreciation for less-than-aesthetic images and movements. This to me reflects more of what we can connect with in our feelings and physicality, and the general picture on stage reflects the balance of the entirety of life.
I strive to create works that not only deliver a work of art that will move the audience, but also to help myself and the dancers dig deeper into ourselves as people. The rehearsal process should be a journey for the dancers, and every performance should be an experience. Through dance we can connect to a deeper part of ourselves, and develop a stronger sense of community.
Heather started her training early, before beginning classes with Ballet Wichita artistic director Jill Landrith at age 12. She continued to perform with the company for 11 years and was promoted to Principal in 2010, and also served as Assistant Rehearsal Director for three years. Miss Eilerts graduated Summa Cum Laude with her BFA in Dance from Wichita State University, under director Nicholas Johnson, where she trained in ballet, traditional modern dance techniques such as Horton, Limon, and Graham, as well as Fosse jazz technique, and mime. While at Wichita State, she had the opportunity to perform works by Charlotte Boye-Christensen, Darrell Grand Moultrie, and Shauna Martinez of Diavolo Dance Theatre, as well as numerous faculty works, including Anam Chara choreographed by Cheyla Clawson, that she had the honor of performing at the Kennedy Center at the American College Dance Festival Nationals. Her original choreography, Elysium Awaits, was chosen to be performed in the faculty spring concert at Wichita State University in March 2014. Her choreography was also featured in Wichita State University's Alumni Concert 2014 and Mid-America Dance Theatre's Summer Dance Concert 2015. Miss Eilerts attended the summer intensive at Alonzo King's LINES Ballet, where she had the opportunity to study under Alonzo King himself. She has also attended the Summer Intensive programs at Big Muddy Dance Company, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, Post:Ballet, and Missouri Contemporary Ballet. After graduating, she taught ballet full time, as well as assisted and taught classes at Wichita State University. After spending several months in San Francisco, training with top choreographers in the area, Miss Eilerts decided to continue her collegiate dance training by pursuing her MFA in Dance at University of California Irvine, where she is currently in her first year of study.
Artist Statement
As a choreographer, I strive to communicate to the audience what we all as humans experience every day. From the mundane rituals of everyday life, to the big struggles that sometimes make us feel alone in a world of billions of people. I believe that through dance, we can come together as a community.
I pull my inspiration from the energy that connects all of us. From the science of the synapses that control our bodies, to the movement of leaves in the wind, and even the light of the farthest stars, we are all connected in a universal way. Just as molecules in our tiny bodies are connected to those stars, so the rhythms of our lives are connected in a way that cannot be seen by our eyes, but must be felt through our beings. This is where my inspiration comes from. My constant curiosity in how everything is connected to everything else drives me to create. To show what I am discovering every day and to connect people to one another and the world around us moves me.
It has been my journey to express what we experience in life, from a simple crossing of paths to the complex emotions that come with a traumatic event, with the precision and expert artistry that dancers are trained to use, while keeping true to the raw form of human movement. I seek to use ever more unconventional movement in my choreography, to mirror our sometimes awkward movements in real life. Through my process of creating, I have developed an appreciation for less-than-aesthetic images and movements. This to me reflects more of what we can connect with in our feelings and physicality, and the general picture on stage reflects the balance of the entirety of life.
I strive to create works that not only deliver a work of art that will move the audience, but also to help myself and the dancers dig deeper into ourselves as people. The rehearsal process should be a journey for the dancers, and every performance should be an experience. Through dance we can connect to a deeper part of ourselves, and develop a stronger sense of community.
