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Nik Graves

@nik.graves

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co-founder of @wearedancecollective
educator & marketing at @myarthousestudio
and overall, a maker of too many arts...

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yall ain't know nothin about a lil cabin trip, do ya?
We crafted, we antiqued, we sat and rotted until our bones melted into the sand... and I wouldn't change any of it ¨̮

1- traditional family photo
2- dusk at the lake
3- husband being adorable
4- water color on the dock
5- my knighting of the cheese castle
6- nico and i.. you know who is who
7- cryptid sighting
8- map of lake half moon
9- don't ask about it. i had a muse.
10- my pwincess by @nik.graves

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3 months ago

TICKETS at https://dance.colum.edu/events

Or in my Bio under links

I love this cast!!
@alyssa_simpson
@robbiedavisdances
@nik.graves
@sararochelle05
@greta.sorensen
@tristensanborn
@cindyxjohnson1
@hhuang.dance
@virginia.kv

Check them out!
Next Video:
Rehearsal Day 8 by @nik.graves

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3 months ago

Second run of my photoshoot with @williamfrederkingphotography which I will be forever grateful for!
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It is an honor to be documented at this point in my career. I have never been more surrounded by dance and community than I am currently. The ability to teach the youth at @myarthousestudio. The opportunity to dance with @danztheatre. The beauty that is all parts of @wearedancecollective. The visibility and support that @chicagodancehealthfund brings to our community.
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I am surround by art. I am surrounded by love.
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Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey and helped me in any capacity to get to where I am today !!! I can not wait to continue to grow alongside you <3
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Just some folk I wanted to give some special love to below for all you have done for me & my artistry :
@stephbley19 @lindsey_scouten @reigndrop333 @mi.chelle_haskell @virginia.kv @ellyzabethadler @leslielacorte @snecko_ @robynwillllson , all the folks at WAC & all of my professors at @dancecenterccc that pushed, challenged, and mentored me in my artistry <3
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LOVE Y'ALL by @nik.graves

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8 months ago

Twas an honor to be able to be documented by thee @williamfrederkingphotography. Thank you for your incredible generosity and dedication.
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Equally as impactful to be back at @dancecenterccc as an alumni for this series! As all of you know, my experience and connections at the Dance Center is why I am the artist I am today. It is why @wearedancecollective exists. It is why I collaborate the way I do. It is responsible for the friends & family I am so lucky to have. Thank you for the opportunity of space!
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This is part one of the shoot! Be prepared for a second run of beautiful photos! by @nik.graves

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8 months ago

Introducing @nik.graves as Wont de Vere
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Whether at the Silver Spur, moonlighting at the family business, or getting up to trouble with twin flame Will de Vere, Wont de Vere is a hoot n hollerin good time
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Nik Graves (they/them) is a Chicago-based dance artist and co-founder of We Are Collective. They hold a BA in Dance from Columbia College Chicago. They have worked with Reign Drop, Robin Davis, Michelle Haskell, and Mandy Milligan, and have performed with Perceptual Motion, Neocortex Dance Theatre, The Human Experience Dance Project, Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble, and Queer Dance Freakout. Their choreographic work has been presented with Alluvion, Still Inspired, Delve, and Modern Marvels, as well as at Expo Chicago at Navy Pier, Wave Wall by See Chicago Dance, the Dance/USA Conference, and the Centre National de la Danse in Paris, France. Nik was a 2025 Body Passages Resident Artist with Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble, serves as Marketing Coordinator for the Chicago Dance Health Fund, and teaches at My Art House Studio.
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Catch Wont de Vere at A Flower in the Tumbleweeds
March 27th & 28th - 7:30pm
Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble
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Photography by @ubx3photography by @nik.graves

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9 months ago

Welp, @snecko_ & I got married.... again? We celebrated with a group of folks this time. People that love us, support us, continue to show up and SHOW OUT for us. From the insane Lip Sync for Your Life to impromptu raffle speeches, we appreciate y'all more than you could ever know. We love you all so much & are so incredibly happy that you all were able to make it. We know that this is technically our 1 year anniversary but y'all made it just as special as the first time :,)
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To my entire universe, @snecko_
You will forever be the star that I walk towards when I am lost or when I want a closer look at the most beautiful thing to ever exist. Thank you for always being the brightest light in my life <3
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Check out the last photo to see what my aunt wore to our ceremony without even knowing that we were walking out to the Jurassic Park Theme song... IYKYK
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Photos by @ubx3photography (@phylinesebrooks) taken in Galena IL by @nik.graves

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a year ago

Vignettes of a Grotesqueerie made its debut a few weeks ago & I just want to take a moment to breathe and show love to those involved.
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This work stemmed from the idea that as children you are taught to dream. As a child, I was shown that queer people are monsters. So was I to dream to be a monster? In short, yes. The most loving, tolerant, accepting, tender monster that there ever could be, but a monster in someone's eyes nonetheless...
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Through vignettes of a childlike memory scape, this work digs into experiences of queer youth. From guilt & shame, to celebration & unbridled freedom, familial traumas & discovery of self... With movement exploration of jazz, contemporary, with dialogue live & recorded, with music that brings you back to your grandparent's house, as queer folks we share so many foundations that allow us to lean on each other even before we have found each other. Youth can feel isolating. I hope that all queer kids get to grow up & find each other through the rubble of childhood.
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A love letter to the collaborators,
To @lindsey_scouten , @virginia.kv , & @mi.chelle_haskell , thank you all for your support on this work. The painful, tedious conversations to the stupidity and guttural laughter... This work is only possible due to your collaboration. I hope that each of you feels your voice resonate throughout this work. I can feel it so clearly.
To @chains_r_us , thank you for allowing time, energy, and space to create the set & explore innovative approaches to what things can do.
To @jackfeld.art , your depiction of the monster is everything I thought I was growing up. It is everything I imagined it to be & more. You are truly a force.
& FINALLY to @snecko_ , you are the reason I am able to sleep with the monsters under our bed so comfortably. In your arms, I am safe. I am home. I am loved. I am meant to be & meant to stay. I love you.
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If you want to see this 20 minute dance solo do not hesitate to reach out, I will loudly & proudly share BUT only if you give me compliments afterward ¨̮
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Photos by @tristensanborn (@photosbytristen) Performed @wearedancecollective taken in Chicago, Illinois by @nik.graves

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a year ago

Howdy yall ! Dance Update:
I have been performing a lot & here are some photos from some of those works ! I just wanna give a huge thank u to all the orgs & individual artists I have been blessed to work with :,) ily
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1 & 2. @wearedancecollective at @modernmarvelsdanceco.
📸: @renstudio
3 & 4. @queerdancefreakout
📸: @francoimages.photography Jenn Udoni
5 & 6. @mi.chelle_haskell at @identityperformingarts.
📸: @renstudio
7. @thehumanexperiencedanceproject
📸: @varya.png
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Upcoming dance stuff:
Catch me performing with @olivialemdance & debuting a new 20 minute solo at Outlaw of the Arts by @wearedancecollective !
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To all the collaborators in these photos & beyond, thank you all for making my artistic life so rich and fulfilling <3 by @nik.graves

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a year ago

TICKETS ON SALE for my newest work, I'd Rather Stay In !!!
May 2 , 3 , 4
@danztheatre
ticket link in bio ¨̮
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I'd Rather Stay In explores the life span of a relationship between two people built on differing foundational beliefs of community. As a queer person, when asking how to make more queer friends I am often met with "go to gay bars / clubs" and personally, these are not the places that I thrive in. I am a homebody, a true grandma at heart. While I see the support and safety that nightlife has given the queer community, I feel detached from it. I'd Rather Stay In digs into the dichotomy of this communal preference.
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A HUGE thank you to this cast for offering so much during this process & truly bringing this story to life <3
Another massive shout out to @54bpm for sculpting the sonic score & playing live for this work!
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I'd Rather Stay In was created during the 2025 Spring Body Passages Residency Program of Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble.
There will be many other beautiful works, performances, and visual arts shared at this event! Come check it all out !
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I will also be performing Cult/ure by @robbiedavisdances / @thehumanexperiencedanceproject at this same event !!! by @nik.graves

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a year ago

Just some proof that i do be dancin ! Some recent stage works that i have had the honor of being a part of either moving in or choreographing ! The first month of year has been filled with love & movement & i cannot wait to see what the rest of 2025 brings for me art-wise!
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1 - 3 : The Bearded Couple
Choreo by @han.swrtz & I
at @still.inspired
photos by @rhysbphotography
4 & 5 : with @neocortexdance
choreo by @juaneirizarry
Photos by @mreidphotog
6 - 8 : Through It All
Choreo by @mi.chelle_haskell
at @simantikos
Photos by Brian Cooper
9 - 11 : The Things You Showed Me
Choreo by Me
Performed by @lindsey_scouten
at @delvedancechicago
Photos by @mreidphotog by @nik.graves

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2 years ago

a 2024 recap so i remember these beautiful moments and can reflect on them going into 2025! can not wait to laugh, and dance, and grow with you all again this year <3
love u all & everyone else that i got to share energy with in 2024 !!!
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1 : Nico & I at @toreewilson's wedding in Montana :,)
2 : @wearedancecollective S. II "and the sequoia stood tall" cast
3 : Birdhouse @my_name.is.r built for me for "The Things You Showed Me"
4 : Besties before Orville Peck
5 : The honor of dancing in "I AM" for @reigndrop333 !
6 : I GOT MARRIED TO THE LOML. °3°
7 : @wearedancecollective S. III cast of "Muses of the Spheres"
8 : Nico & da boys <3
9 : Had the blessing of working w @mi.chelle_haskell & @lindsey_scouten on "Rumination Room"... love y'all!
10 : nico holding a frog they found on our honeymoon! by @nik.graves

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2 years ago

now that i have taken a breather & am reflecting on the latest season with @wearedancecollective !
i just want to say i am incredibly grateful and feel insanely privileged to share space and energy with these fine folks... i can not wait for more memories to be made with yall <3
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1. May I Wear You
2. May I Wear You (Choreo by @robynwillllson & I)
3. Apropos of Antheia
4. Apropos of Antheia (Choreo by @reigndrop333 & I)
5. Another Pleasure to Burn (Choreo by @han.swrtz)
6. The company of We Are Collective !!!
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all photography by @ubx3photography by @nik.graves

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2 years ago