“When I look back on my life, and I haven’t even lived that long, I’m like, ‘Wow, this has been amazing!”
At the tender age of 30, world-renowned dancer Alicia J. Graf has lived her dream on stages around the globe. She has been praised by the leading authorities and connoisseurs of artistic expression through movement. The New York Times is just one of many major publications that have heralded her unparalleled talent.
For the past year, the Columbia, Md. native has been in St. Louis at COCA, providing aspiring dancers with the tools to follow in her impeccably poised footsteps.
She was once the one to watch among the company of the best dancers in the world housed within the incomparable Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater of New York City.
But on Sunday, her eyes were focused on the students in her advanced class where she paid attention to every transition of movement in each of their eager bodies in a University City rehearsal studio.
“It’s not about just hitting the move,” Graf told her class. “When you reach out, there has to some sense of desperation, when you extend your arm out – like this.”
She then proceeded to thrust her long limb outward in a manner that evoked more emotion than an entire performance of intricate choreography with complex jumps and turns.
Everything about that act looked natural – though it’s not what she expected for herself.
“I never had any desire to be a teacher when I was younger, even as a professional dancer,” Graf said, after her class had ended. “I knew I had a talent for teaching, but I never thought of it as a career.”
That was until she decided to bow out gracefully as a professional dancer when she injured her knee a second time last summer. Just as she opted to turn obstacle into opportunity by pursuing her education at Columbia University nearly 10 years before, Graf’s plan B included higher learning at an esteemed institution.
But this time, she decided on a complete change of scenery – in part, to be closer to Kirby Mack, the man who will become her husband in May.
“I didn’t want to stay in New York because it was too hard to stay in that world,” Graf said.
“You are around all of the dancers, and they push you. Directors are like, ‘Are you ready yet?’ And I just didn’t know what my next step was going to be, and I didn’t know if it was going to be dancing. So I had to step away.”
She enrolled in the non-profit-management program at Washington University last August and began teaching a couple of classes at COCA in September. Now she teaches 11 classes a week in addition to her studies, which she completes in May.
“I had no aspirations as a teacher until I came here and I saw the hunger and the growth in the students,” Graf admitted. “It kind of draws you in, and I would want to be here all of the time to help them to move forward.”
Starting over at COCA
Plenty of institutions are probably wondering how COCA was able secure a world-class dancer of Graf’s caliber as an instructor. Actually, it was Graf who approached them after learning of the organization through COCA graduate and fellow Ailey dancer Antonio Douthit.
“I became better friends with Antonio, and he would talk about how great the school was,” Graf said. “Kirby was living here and I was coming here to visit him. I would ask about what dance schools were good here, and COCA always came up.”
When Kirby would go to work, Graf would go to COCA. She even embraced COCA Executive Director Stephanie Riven as a mentor, shadowing Riven when she came to town.
Once she relocated, COCA quickly became a part of her life and she now holds the institution as closely to her heart as her dear friend Douthit.
“They are very engaged with the students, but what I love about here is that’s it’s not that strict conservatory feel,” Graf said.
She says that with COCA’s foundation as a community organization with a family feel, they show students how to develop as people while simultaneously developing their artistic talent – not the whip-cracking atmosphere that defined Graf’s dance education.
“They show that if you have a body, you can dance,” Graf said.
“And if you put your heart and soul into it and give 100 percent, you’re going to make it some way, somehow. And that is in line with my own personal philosophy.”
Teaching tomorrow’s stars
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Graf manages the pre-professional troupe at COCA. She describes her role as a dance guidance counselor for the more than 40 young people in the pre-professional craft, working with them on audition tapes, recommendations and dance solos.
She speaks of “her kids” with the gleam of a proud parent, and the feeling is mutual.
“Her technique and what she can do makes me want to do more and work harder,” said 14-year old K’Yana Johnson.
Graf eagerly revealed that each of the nine high school seniors have been accepted in one of the top 10 colleges in the United States for dance.
Jacob Lewis is one of the nine.
“Having access to someone on her level in St. Louis is amazing,” Lewis said.
“She is amazing, and she is inspiring. She is one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met, and she makes herself available. Plus, I feel like I can ask her for any type of advice, and I can talk to her as a friend.”
She appreciates the bond with her students as much as the standing ovations she received when she was on stage.
Graf said, “Having them call you right after an audition and say, ‘It felt so good; I think I got it’ – I’m like, ‘Oh my God, you called me.’ That feeling is the same type of feeling that you get when you perform.”
Graf underwent surgery in April and is booking gigs – including with the Saint Louis Symphony and the Missouri History Museum – just to make sure she doesn’t forget the tricks of the trade.
“I have a second career, I’m getting married and I’m happy. I didn’t know if I would be happy – and that’s the biggest thing. And I’ve found a community of people who have supported me,” Graf said.
“Now, my goal for life is I want to be an enabler. I don’t necessarily want to be a role model, a star or famous. I just want to help people get to where I’ve been.”
