PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS: TAYLOR CRAFT
About Me
Biography
Julia Starr is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher. Her heart, through time, has led her towards teaching, especially young children and adolescents. When Julia was 3 years old, her mother, a professional figure skater, didn’t want Julia going through the hectic life of being a skater that she lived, and decided to enroll Julia in a ballet class once a week at a local dance studio in Kodiak, AK. When Julia was 9 years old, she started dancing competitively in several styles. At 12, she and was given the opportunity to dance at the Latin Fox Sports Awards in Miami, FL, alongside the rapper Pitbull. When she was 16, she auditioned and was casted in the Nutcracker with BalletMet at the Detroit Opera House. Upon entering higher education at Marygrove College, then transferring to Wayne State University she's had several opportunities to train in many styles with many renowned dancers in the field. She finished her undergrad at Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance, in April of 2020.
Artist Statement
I am dancer, choreographer, and teacher. I enjoy creating work that pushes myself out of a comfortable feeling, into a new trajectory to experiment with myself. I like my work to feel groovy, yet with intentionality. However, this is not the type of dancer I’d always consider myself to be. From the beginning of my dance career at the age of 3, my love for ballet has continuously blossomed and has exponentially grown throughout my years. Once entering higher education, my passion for ballet didn’t dissipate, but grew for other styles and opportunities in dance. I came to the realization that performing is not for me and that there are several different routes for me to take in the field. What changed my whole perspective about my own personal dance career, that drew my attention and makes my heart grow is teaching. Seeing the process of a dancer, especially children and adolescents, from the beginning of a process to the end makes me realize why I do what I do every day. It truly fascinates me to see how differently each individual learns and to morph myself into understanding how one learns.
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS: BMBO CREATIONS
Curriculum Vitae
Education:
2016 - 2020
Wayne State University
August 2017 - April 2020
Marygrove College
September 2016 - April 2017
Tau Sigma National Honor Society Member
August 2017 - April 2020
Talent Scholar Recipient at both Marygrove College and Wayne State University
September 2016 - April 2020
Training:
2016 - 2020
Trained in the following techniques:
Ballet: Cecchetti, Russian, Italian
Modern: Horton, Cunningham, Ethiomodern, Graham, etc.
African: Congolese
Jazz
Pilates
Trained with:
Tracy Halloran, Susan Panek, Johnathan Cash, Stephen Hadala, Zandria Lucas, Brandon Koepsell, Lisa LaMarre, Meg Paul, Biba Bell, Karen Prall, Rad Mikey Courtney, Jessica Rajko, Jessica Thomas, Eva Powers, Theresa Butkovich, Brian Strimpel Baira, Shaina Branfman Baira, Hannah Anderson
Further Training:
2012 - 2018
Annually attended Stephen Hadala Ballet Intensive
2012 - 2018
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (dance major)
2015
Performance Experience:
2016 - 2019
"Feeling...Good" Senior Capstone BFA Solo Showcase at Maggie Allesee Theater
2019
"I Feel Like I'm Drowning" Choreography II Final Showing at Maggie Allesee Theater
2019
"A Journey Awaits" Choreography II Midterm Showing at Maggie Allesee Theater
2019
CompanyOne opening for Spring Dance Concert at the Bonstelle Theater
2018
CompanyOne Tour at several locations in the Detroit area
2018
"Ants" by Baira at Maggie Allesee Theater and Bonstelle Theater
2017
"Work, Eat, Sleep, Repeat" by Michelle Brock at Maggie Allesee Theatre and Bonstelle Theater
2017
"Episode 2" Self Choreographed Duet with CompanyOne at Maggie Allesee Theater and Bonstelle Theater
2017
"Its Complicated" at Maggie Allesee Theater and Bonstelle Theater
2017
Lisa LaMarre work in December Dance Concert at Detroit Music Hall
2017
Improvisation Class work in December Dance Concert in December Dance at Detroit Music Hall
2017
Sue Panek work in Company2 Showcase at Marygrove College Theater
2017
"Newtons Cradle" in Company2 Showcase at Marygrove College Theater
2017
Brandon Burton work in Senior Showcase at Marygrove College Theater
2016
"The Nutcracker" with BalletMet at the Detroit Opera House
2014
Choreographic Experience:
2017 - 2019
"Time to Waste" BFA Capstone Project
2020
"Feeling...Good" BFA Capstone Solo Project
2019
"Keep On" Choreography III Final
2019
"I Feel Like I'm Drowning" Choreography II Final Performance
2019
"A Journey Awaits" Choreography II Midterm Collaboration Project
2019
"All I Want" Choreography I Final Performance
2018
CompanyOne Choreography Collaboration (duet)
2017
Teaching Experience:
2016 - Current
Instructor at Great Lakes Dance Centre
Teaching in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, acrobats