About Haylee
Photo Credits: Luis Rodriguez
Photo Credits: Luis Rodriguez
Photo Credits: Luis Rodriguez
Photo Credits: Luis Rodriguez
Connecting to an audience without the use of words is important to Ritter. Growing up she dealt with the struggles of having dyslexia and still struggles to communicate through the English language. She has also discovered that people share similar experiences that feel individual to them. By creating works based on personal experiences, Ritter has the ability to create a space that all are free to let out their emotions and a sense of community is formed.
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Performing is one of Ritter’s greatest joys, as well as working with other artists to bring their visions to life. As a student at Springfield College, Ritter has performed works by Gallim Dance (Andrea Miller), CONTA-TIEMPO (Ana María Alvarez), Sarah Zehnder (Zehnder Dance), Kodee Van Nort, and Maureen Shea. In the summer of 2024, Ritter performed Vein, choreographed by Grace Regean, at the Oklahoma International Dance Festival. At Kilgore College, Ritter has performed at the 80th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor, the Cotton Bowl pregame and halftime performance, and at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as a dancer in the Mariah Carey Finale, a Rangerette, and a Macy’s dancer.
​Ritter’s objective when choreographing is to allow herself and people to release their emotional baggage and gain inspiration from life experiences. For example, her recent work, Lost Trajectory, was based on the feeling of not knowing what to do or what the next steps would be. She also highlighted each dancer's personal feelings towards their own futures by incorporating movements inspired by their stories. Ritter creates genuine movement that comes from the soul by showing how our emotions can initiate movement by highlighting certain body parts, specifically from the chest. She also incorporates spirals and the imagery of energy being pulled and pushed in all directions. As of right now Ritter is in the process of a new work based on the idea of “two things can be true at once”.
​​As an educator of dance, Ritter explores the value of freely expressing one’s self and helping her students develop who they are as dancers. Each student has a different story and dance goal. She exposes her students to all types of dance such as Musical Theater Jazz, Contemporary, Modern, Tap, Ballet, Hip-hop, and improv. She also incorporates improvisation into her classes to let each student find their own unique movement story. Ritter pushes her students to think outside of the box to develop their unique artistry.
​Overall, Ritter incorporates meaningful connections and storytelling within her choreography, performing, and education of dance. By digging deeper into ourselves, she believes dance becomes more meaningful and impactful to ourselves as well as others.
Education
2023-2025
Bachloelor's of Arts in Dance
Springfield College
2020-2023
Associate's of Arts in Dance
Kilgore College
Professional Performance Experience
07/2024
2023-Present
2024
2024
2024
2024
2023
2023
2023
11/2023
11/2023
01/2023
11/2023
05/2022
04/2022 & 04/2023
2023
2023
2023
2023
2022
2022
2023
2023
2023
2023
2022
2022
2022
2021
2021
2021
Oklahoma International Dance Festival
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Vein choreographed by Grace Reagan
Springfield College, Springfield, MA
Touring Repertory Company, Artistic Director Sarah Zehnder
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Sarah Zehnder - Respair
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Sarah Zehnder - Where do we go from here?
Faculty and Guest Artist Work
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CONTRA-TIEMPO/Ana María Alvarez - joyUS justUs
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Sarah Zehnder - RESPAIR
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Kodee Van Nort - there with
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Maureen Shea - Steps Away
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Gallim/Andrea Miller- BRUCE (Staging by Gary Reagan)
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Kodee Van Nort - Wake
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Maureen Shea - Calamities
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Spirit Of America Productions
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Dancer in the Mariah Carey finale for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
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Opened the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Kilgore College Rangerettes
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Cotton Bowl Pregame & Halftime performance
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Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
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80th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii
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Rangerettes Revels
Faculty and Guest Artist Work
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JT Horenstein - House of Theater
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Shelley Wayne - Magic Effect
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Maryelle Stephenson - Faculty Welcome
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Afton Beatles - Hall of Fame
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Shelley Wayne - The Rangerette Extravaganza
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Afton Beatles - It's All Coming Back ​
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Kilgore CollegeDance Department Show Case
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Paint it Black - Rehearsal Director: Angela Aulds (Sophomore Ballet)
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Over the Love (Sophomore Tap/Jazz)
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Take it from the Clap - Rehearsal Director: Angela Aulds (Sophomore Modern)
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Sparks - Haylee Ritter
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Body Language (Freshman Tap/Jazz)
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Bad Guy - Rehearsal Director: Angela Aulds (Sophomore Ballet)
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Running from the Chaos - Rehearsal Director: Angela Aulds (Freshman Modern)
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What's Poppin? (Freshman Tap/Jazz)
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Contagion - Rehearsal Director: Angela Aulds (Freshman Modern)
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Blank Space - Rehearsal Director: Angela Aulds (Freshman Ballet)