Originally from Brookville, PA, Gretchen Hurd received her BA in Dance from Slippery Rock University in 2002. She credits her amazing instructors with the development of her own teaching philosophy - creating a positive, nurturing environment that fosters the ability for growth, both artistically and personally while instilling the love and benefits of dance in her students.
As a professional and repertory dancer and instructor in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, her performance career began in 2003 in Pittsburgh, PA when she accepted a company member position with LABCO (Laboratory Company Dance) under the direction of Gwen Hunter Richie. After five seasons with LABCO, the company disbanded and Hurd became a freelance choreographer and performer for the summer of 2009. While performing with The Pillow Project and STAYCEE PEARL dance project she was offered a position with the new August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble. For the 2009-2010 season, Hurd performed with AWCDE as a founding company member. Her final performance with this company included the last work that Robert Battle created before he became the artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. AWCDE catapulted her into a full time company member position with Dance Alloy Theatre.
Since Dance Alloy Theater disbanded in 2011, she has performed as a company member and guest artist with STAYCEE PEARL dance project, Gia T Presents and Tanz Theater Andre Kozlowski and has performed her own work in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. During her career, she was fortunate enough to work with choreographers such as Kyle Abraham (Abraham in Motion), Nora Chipaumire, Teena Marie Custer, Crystal Frazier (Rennie Harris Puremovement), Miguel Gutierrez, Christopher Huggins (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater), Jennifer Keller, Andre Koslowski, Ursula Payne, Pearlann Porter, Gwen Hunter Ritchie, Sarah Skaggs, Kevin Wynn, and Pavel Zustiak. Hurd's choregraphy has been professionally performed by West Virginia Dance Company, August Wilson Dance Ensemble, Dance Alley Theatre, West Virginia Wesleyan College, and West Virginia University. She has also created many solos, trios, small and large group pieces for her students in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Over the past 20 years, Hurd has taught Choreography, Hip Hop, Improvisation, Modern, Jazz, Salsa, and Creative Movement to all ages in Maryland.
With an eclectic, energetic, lighthearted, and supportive approach, Hurd prides herself on creating a safe place for students to feel comfortable to explore, constructively analyze and grow as artists. She prepares her students to enter the world with a thirst for a well-rounded knowledge of dance regardless of the path they decide to pursue and a positive approach to a lifetime of learning and growth!
As a professional and repertory dancer and instructor in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, her performance career began in 2003 in Pittsburgh, PA when she accepted a company member position with LABCO (Laboratory Company Dance) under the direction of Gwen Hunter Richie. After five seasons with LABCO, the company disbanded and Hurd became a freelance choreographer and performer for the summer of 2009. While performing with The Pillow Project and STAYCEE PEARL dance project she was offered a position with the new August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble. For the 2009-2010 season, Hurd performed with AWCDE as a founding company member. Her final performance with this company included the last work that Robert Battle created before he became the artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. AWCDE catapulted her into a full time company member position with Dance Alloy Theatre.
Since Dance Alloy Theater disbanded in 2011, she has performed as a company member and guest artist with STAYCEE PEARL dance project, Gia T Presents and Tanz Theater Andre Kozlowski and has performed her own work in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. During her career, she was fortunate enough to work with choreographers such as Kyle Abraham (Abraham in Motion), Nora Chipaumire, Teena Marie Custer, Crystal Frazier (Rennie Harris Puremovement), Miguel Gutierrez, Christopher Huggins (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater), Jennifer Keller, Andre Koslowski, Ursula Payne, Pearlann Porter, Gwen Hunter Ritchie, Sarah Skaggs, Kevin Wynn, and Pavel Zustiak. Hurd's choregraphy has been professionally performed by West Virginia Dance Company, August Wilson Dance Ensemble, Dance Alley Theatre, West Virginia Wesleyan College, and West Virginia University. She has also created many solos, trios, small and large group pieces for her students in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Over the past 20 years, Hurd has taught Choreography, Hip Hop, Improvisation, Modern, Jazz, Salsa, and Creative Movement to all ages in Maryland.
With an eclectic, energetic, lighthearted, and supportive approach, Hurd prides herself on creating a safe place for students to feel comfortable to explore, constructively analyze and grow as artists. She prepares her students to enter the world with a thirst for a well-rounded knowledge of dance regardless of the path they decide to pursue and a positive approach to a lifetime of learning and growth!
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