Chynia Harris

Chynia Ariana Harris began dance training at the age of 13 at Ann Catherine Cross School of Dance, training in multiple dance genres from ballet to hip-hop. While with the studio, she also danced on the competitive dance & convention circuit and attended pre-professional summer dance intensives. Chynia is currently a junior at Virginia Commonwealth University seeking a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance & Choreography and a minor in Media Studies. Since attending the university, she has had the privilege to dance in works by Christian von Howard, Autumn Proctor Waddell, and Stephanie Martinez. She’s also performed in several senior dance capstone shows in Grace Street Theater and site-specific locations. Some notable include Elise Cumberbatch’s “Do Not Be Afraid of Tenderness” and L.A. Morgan’s “With Eyes from Both Sides”. On-campus, she is also a part of student organizations, Black Art Student Empowerment (B.A.S.E) and Heels Incorporated Dance Performance Team. Chynia has an interest in incorporating the combination of dance & media into her career. She has created and performed in numerous dance films since starting at VCU. Three of her films have been accepted and shown in the annual live student film show “Rough Cuts”. She recently presented a successful live art installation show titled “Tabula Rasa'' at the Anderson Gallery alongside two other VCU Arts students with the help of the VCU Arts Collaborative Research Grant. The trio of undergraduates constructed a live show with a combination of art mediums dance, sculpture, and film. All structured around the idea of creating what “Tabula Rasa'' translates to "a clean slate" alongside earthy scenic undertones. Chynia will be presenting a self-choreographed solo, “Light the match, Release the weight” at the American College Dance Festival and VCU Dance Student Showcase “Pathfinders' ' this spring semester.