Anyone who hasn’t heard of female hip-hop artist Lizzo is missing out!
Based in Minneapolis, Lizzo writes music that is as much about building yourself up as it is about accepting who you are.
With feel-good beats and catchy lyrics, it’s hard not to love all of Lizzo’s tracks, as well as her lively stage presence! Her show would not be the grand spectacle that it is, however without her extremely talented background dancers - one of whom is a UMD alumna!
That dancer is Grace Holden, and she grew up in Bemidji, Minn. “I became passionately inspired by the dance community here in Duluth and choreographed many different experimental and modern dance routines,” Grace says.
“I worked at Electric Fetus in downtown Duluth which really expanded my music connections. From there, I was finally able to audition for Lizzo’s dance team,” Grace recalls. The audition consisted of five hours of freestyle dance along with choreographed dance and a personal interview with Lizzo.
“I’ve been on the team now for nearly four years. The experience is continuously changing, and it’s really been amazing. I’ve traveled around the world and been creative in ways that I never would have been able to without this opportunity.”
Grace is ecstatic to come back to UMD and perform for her family and friends at the spring concert. She’s even invited the professors that helped her get to where she is today. Grace graduated in 2013 with a degree in Communication and minored in dance.
“This concert won’t be the last time I’m in Duluth,” Grace says. “I look forward giving back to the community by possibly teaching classes sometime in the future.”
Don’t miss out on this exciting concert on Saturday, October 13 at 7:00 pm at UMD Parking Lot E (Maroon Lot).
Get your tickets no later than Thursday, October 11! There are only 100 tickets reserved for alumni so reserve yours today.
See you there!