Gretchen Hurd, photographer at Dapper Dewey Photography.
Gretchen Hurd
I'm a happy person. No... I mean REALLY happy. Anyone who knows me, or even just comes into contact with me gets it immediately. "Wow, you're happy." Yeah. It's definitely my thing. I like to think that I can rub a little happiness off on everyone I meet. My energy is about as large as the happiness... that's why kids and animals are drawn to me. And it's why I can keep up with them!
A little about my background...
I've been a dancer since I was twelve and a professional dancer since I was 23. That was a long time ago. I know that I don't look like I'm out of my 30s, but I am. I started with ballet technique and branched out to jazz, tap, modern and hip hop. Through my study and teaching of dance I've gained the ability to read bodies. I can interpret movement to see how and where a subject is moving. Anticipating the shifting of weight helps me capture images of an animal in mid-stride, a dancer at the hight of a jump, or an athlete at the max of their performance. My choreographic background helps me frame subjects to form my own photographic perspective.
The past four years have been so wonderful for my photography. I've met tons of pups and families; documented trips; and captured performances, parties, engagements and weddings. I really have enjoyed every second.
Email me at dapperdewey@gmail.com or call 304-203-3262.
Want to know a little more about my dance career? Here's my dance biography:
Gretchen Hurd is originally from Brookville, PA. Hurd received her BA in Dance from Slippery Rock University in 2002 and relocated to Pittsburgh to accept a company member position with Laboratory Company Dance (LABCO). After five seasons with LABCO and working with choreographers like Kyle Abraham, Teena Custer, Miguel Gutiarez, Jennifer Keller, Gwen Hunter Ritchie, Sarah Skaggs, Kevin Wynn, and Pavel Zustiak, the company disbanded and Hurd became a freelance choreographer and performer for the summer of 2009. While performing with The Pillow Project she was offered a position with the August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble. For the 2009-2010 season, Hurd performed with AWCDE as a founding company member. She worked with choreographers Robert Battle (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater), Crystal Frazier (Rennie Harris Puremovement), Christopher Huggins (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater), and Greer Reed during her short time with AWCDE. This company catapulted her into a company member position with the Dance Alloy Theater where she performed work by Nora Chipaumire, André Koslowski, Ursula Payne, and Pearlann Porter. Since DAT disbanded, she performed as a company member for the STAYCEE PEARL Dance Project, Gia T presents, TanzTheatre André Koslowski and has performed her own work. Her choreography has been performed by West Virginia Dance Company, August Wilson Dance Ensemble, West Virginia Wesleyan College, and by West Virginia University in Guatemala. Hurd has taught Choreography, Hip-Hop, Improvisation, Modern, Jazz, Salsa, and Creative Movement to all ages in Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. In the past, she was an instructor at Morgantown Dance Studio, The Dance Factory, Cadalzo Contemporary Dance Studio, and was Adjunct Faculty member at West Virginia Wesleyan College, West Virginia University, West Liberty University, and Chatham University. Currently, she is an instructor at Altered Productions, Dance Unleashed, PK’s School of Dance, and Studio 412. Hurd is also an established photographer and specializes in pet, studio dance, and performance photography.