Dakota Bouher has dreamt of becoming a dancer ever since she was five years old. But it wasn’t until she was 16 that she started to make that dream a reality.
Now a sophomore dance major at the University of Oregon, Bouher is hoping to continue her dream as a dancer and perform with a professional company.
“I love the feeling I have when I’m dancing,” Bouher said. “I feel strong and ultimately, I feel alive. To dance is to experience the body in a whole new way. To me, it is one of the most human experiences possible.”
Unlike most other UO students, Bouher isn’t just caught studying textbooks and taking notes during lecture. A huge part of her education happens while she practices in the dance studio.
Along with history and fundamental classes, the aspiring dancer spends almost four hours every day in the dance department studios practicing her main focus, modern dance with an emphasis in ballet technique. She also participates in improvisational classes and classes that examine dance in different ways.
The UO isn’t exactly known as a dance school, but as Bouher explained, being successful in the program depends on the dedication you have to make the effort to improve and passion for dance.
“She works very hard and that is key,”said Melanie Meenan, GTF and Dakota’s Ballet teacher. “As we always say – talent only goes so far. She is always improving. She really makes the most of every class and has great spirit and work ethic.”
After deciding to make the switch from being an art major to a dance major, Bouher is now working hard every day to pursue her dream of joining a professional company and working in community arts to start a company for, but not exclusive to, underprivileged and minority families.
“I want kids to be able to experience dance as art in their own body. Small towns and communities are of utmost importance to me because I was raised in a small town along the Oregon coast,” Bouher said. “Growing up, I was involved in community theater, and into high school I joined the speech team and also started dancing. Having those programs available to me helped shape me and helped me discover my passions.”
Along with dancing daily, knowing the theater is a huge part of the dance experience, Bouher said. Because of that she has been involved in production classes and was also one of two stage managers for a dance show called “Bruit” by dance assistant professor Shannon Mockli. By learning to work the stage, Bouher hoped to broaden her skill set and add more to her great experience here at the UO.
“I’m appreciative every day for what the faculty members offer us in the department. It’s a community. Being in the dance department is different than being in any other major,” Bouher said. “When you dance, you share a part of yourself that you don’t share in any other way. Dance is extremely personal and that’s why our department is special. We call each other our ‘dance family.’ We really are a family.”