Stevie Lamblin was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio and has been dancing ever since. They started in the studio environment at 3 years old and accumulated study in ballet, pointe, modern( Horton), tap, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, Tahitian, and Hawaiian. They started in DCDC's second company at 18 and received an apprenticeship by their senior year of college. Throughout this time, they engaged in deeper study in ballet, modern, contemporary and African. After graduating with a bachelor's of science degree in behavioral neuroscience and psychology from Wright State University, they immediately began working and touring full time as a professional artist with DCDC. They have toured to Bermuda, China, and all throughout the country.
During this time, Stevie was attending school for their Master's of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. They graduated summa cum laude in 2019 and became nationally certified and professionally licensed as a counselor in the state of Ohio. Their accomplishments earned them a spot in Wright State's 2019 "Woman of The Year'' and an article and feature titled "Balancing Act'' wherein Stevie discusses the duality and connection of their career paths. After 8 years with DCDC's organization and a full caseload, they decided to retire from the stage...or so they thought! They returned to the stage with Mutual Dance Theatre in 2021 and completed two seasons with the company. In 2022 they joined the Dayton Dance Initiative (DDI), a collaboration of artists from DCDC and Dayton ballet.
Stevie is fresh into the choreography sphere. They were asked to choreograph for DDI in 2023 and created “Pertho”, a piece based on ancient Norse divination tools used by Vikings. They have also been commissioned to make works for Mutual Dance Theatre, Synergy Dance Festival, and Northern Kentucky University. They are both humbled and excited to be creating another work for DDI. They hope to further showcase how their background in psychology has enhanced their artistic lens.
Get to know Stevie
Seasons with DDI: This will be my second season.
Company affiliation: I used to dance with DCDC and Mutual Dance Theatre.
What inspires you in this world? Why do you dance?
I dance because I am inundated with an emotional intensity with which the English lexicon has yet to be able to encompass or identify. I have big feels, and in moving my body, I've found that I can connect to this part of myself in a way that heals me and reveals me. It's a beautiful relationship with myself that I am able to share on stage. It's an inexplicable mix of vulnerability and validation that I hope invites others to feel and experience themselves too. This idea that our innermost experiences can become externalized feeds into my work both as an artist and as a therapist.
What do you love about DDI?
DDI was the commencement of my entire choreography career! It shattered what felt like endless glass ceilings and blocked pathways by providing independence and opportunities outside of strict concert company life. As someone currently freelancing, it has been game changing to be able to work amongst amazing professionals that I am enamored to call my friends. At DDI, the creators and the creations are the organization. It eliminated bureaucratic suppression to allow room for the artists to be the arbiters and central focus. It feels like a new place I can genuinely and safely call home. What's not to love?
Favorite small business in Dayton:
Wheatpenny and Century Bar