Meet Your New Teacher PDX!

It truly feels like Cam Welch (they/he) has been delivered to us by the great spirit of Madonna herself. As our newest Teacher in Portland, Cam is more than perfect for the wild and wacky task of teasing out sweat, smiles and singalong moments from our dancing community. The first time we danced with Cam they made us squeal with joy, green hair bouncing and smile breaking like the sun over a neon grassy field straight out of a queer-futuristic dreamscape. Cam will teach their first class in Portland this month, and we know you’re not ready for their brilliance (but it’s coming for you anyway). This sweet tooth empath has more to offer than we know what to do with, and we can’t wait for you to meet.

Cam, you have such an infectious sense of play. What keeps you smiling with such genuine warmth?

Cam: I don’t always know exactly when or how I could be impacting someone’s day, so if I have the ability to make it joyful then I do! Additionally, It can be hard to find spaces that feel safe to be playful, and when I find those spaces and people it gives me the zoomies. That common humanity, love for art and community, explosive yet comforting excitement and curiosity… play time!

It’s so stunning to encounter your sense of trust in people, in community. In the moments when it gets tougher to bring out that bright joy, what brings you back? 

Cam: I’m still learning to allow myself the space to be angry, depressed, irritated, exhausted etc… but I have an undying optimism in my core. No matter how absolute shit things may seem or feel, I’m ultimately grateful to be experiencing and learning and growing at that depth; it makes me feel alive and that is joyful to me. 

That’s ultimately the definition of being alive, right? Willingness to learn and experience all the stuff. It also seems like community is key for you. What do you hold dearest in community spaces?

Cam: I have specific passions for facilitating gender affirming and mixed-ability movement classes, focusing on somatic healing, kinesthetic understanding, and play. I hope to carry this joyful, open, healing energy into my Dance Church offerings, and that my wide variety of teaching and movement interests and experience can positively impact community members’ relationships with their bodies and dance.

We love a multi-modal movement teacher. Tell us about the ways that you move your body – like, what forms are you trained in, and how do you practice movement these days? 

Cam: I started out singing and dancing as a kid, training in jazz, musical theatre, hip hop, tumbling, ballet, etc… and was introduced to modern and contemporary in high school. and got my BFA in dance and a Masters of Art in Teaching (for K-12 dance education) from Westminster University in Utah, where I primarily trained in modern, contemporary, improvisation and composition. I continue to dive deep into floorwork, directionality, articulation, focus, and weight shifts, which you’ll likely see in my work… I love to choreograph a chaotic, weight shift/direction-changing, gorgeous mess. I have been exploring partner social dancing and more specific styles within hip hop as well. I recently obtained my personal training license and love to tie my dance wisdom into fitness through my business, Into-ition Movement. Hit me up on my site for your personal training needs and dance magic! 

Okay, so you LOVE to teach! We love that 😉What is your favorite thing about teaching movement? 

Cam: I teach to empower others to feel at home and move in their bodies. I absolutely love making mistakes and having moments of confusion/brain farts. In those moments I’m able to practice and model self-patience and compassion, be adaptable, and share a human moment with people. I hope that others feel inspired to make mistakes followed by self-compassion and patience, and have that same love when others ‘fail’ as well. Everyone in the room is holding energy and space for one another, and it’s a powerful force! I can really struggle sometimes to articulate myself verbally, so moving my body and valuing movement as a communication form is heavenly and empowering to myself and many others!

Stunning. Magnanimous. Miraculous. So….. when’s your first class?

Cam: Thursday February 13th at BodyVox! Sign up here for sweaty, energy-swirling, screechy, howly play!

And, of course we’ve gotta ask: what are you listening to these days? What’s that one track (or artist) that’s got you up and dancing?

Cam: Anything Masego or Orion Sun (especially love Antidote). And Leon Thomas’ MUTT has taken over my brain nonstop! I’m also finding my way back to classic rock that I grew up on, such as Rush, Steely Dan, and The Grateful Dead.

Check out some of Cam's recent crochet projects!