Introducing Drake Hardy

Drake Hardy is a Lafayette-based choreographer, performer, and teacher with a BFA in Dance from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. His work has been featured throughout South Louisiana, including a recent performance in Send on the Clowns! by Nicole Blair Curtis.

Drake’s personal style blends historical elements with a range of dance styles. Currently, he teaches ballet and modern for all ages at Evolve 26 in Baton Rouge, along with community pop-up classes across Acadiana. Drake is one of the latest ArtSpark Grant recipients at the Acadiana Center for the Arts. He plans to use his grant to further develop his professional artistic career by producing his first dance concert.

In addition to teaching, Drake offers strength and conditioning, solo and group choreography, and private technique lessons. His teaching philosophy emphasizes the connection between anatomy and movement, prioritizing understanding over shape. For Drake, dance is about communication: performers dance to be understood, and audiences watch to gain a deeper understanding.

Who makes up your art circle?

My art circle is a combination of movers and academics.  When creating and growing I find importance in understanding the why and how me make our decisions in art and the experience that can only be gained but doing. Being a performing artist, my medium is fleeting and spending more time in the preparation stages allows me to feel more connected to my work. 

How do you expand your art circle?

I expand my circle but keeping all avenues open. There is always a new skill to learn and inspiration to be found from the people and world around us. By creating opportunities to discuss and reflect on dance and and other art forms, I have been about to grow my circle and become apart of others circles as well. 

What value do you see in having a creative community?

I believe that creative communities allow for understanding. A large part of my work is to understand the world and people around me and hopefully share that understanding with others. Without creative communities we’re left with dull answers to process. I feel that it’s these communities who provide a pulse to areas like Lafayette. 

How does your artistic approach contribute to  your community?

I feel that my approach is always to engage the community. Whether I’m working directly with people outside my field, or developing work with the experience of the community as my priority, everything I do is for them. I would not have the opportunities granted to me had it not been from the support of the community. I use the resources and training that I have gained to create opportunities for those who have helped to get me here.