This is a sponsored interview in partnership with Tecovas.
She taps, she teaches, and she’s been doing it for more than three decades. Meet Acia Gray, the producing artistic director who co-founded Tapestry Dance Company in 1989. We caught up with Gray to learn more about her:
Who are you and what is your job?
“I feel that we're an institution here in Austin. Back in the day when we were founded, I mean it was 35 years ago this season, Austin was a lot smaller. So if you took the top five arts organizations in the city, Tapestry was one of them.
I'm actually also a solo artist and teacher in the wonderful art form of jazz tap dancing.”
So let's walk a mile in your boots. What do you do on an average day?
“I am still teaching tap dance here in Austin and we have a facility on Riverside Drive, and I only teach adults and teens, so I don't do kids.
We did have a full academy of professional, salaried dancers until mid-COVID, when we couldn't do it anymore. So now, instead of being in rehearsal for 30 hours a week with that company, I have to contract artists to do shows. We use our facility to put shows together and usually it's two to three shows a year.
I tour around the world and the nation teaching and performing. I choreograph on and off, but the next thing on the slate is our (Soul 2 Sole) international tap festival, which is in its 25th year this year.”
Why does your work matter to Austin?
“I believe why Tapestry's work matters and, because my work is most within Tapestry Dance Company, is that our full productions have never been showcasing choreography and technique for that sake only. It's always been, and most definitely since the mid 90s, if not before the early 90s, it's put together with a concept.
But I truly believe that my work is a message of staying present, and listening, more than anything.”
