Meet Bridget Heddens of Beam+

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bridget Heddens.

Bridget, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I moved to Colorado in 2016 after graduating from the University of Iowa with Bachelors degrees in Dance and Therapeutic Recreation. Moving from Iowa was one of the best and scariest decisions I made but it has paid off with so many opportunities and a group of amazing people. I started off in Colorado, working for a non-profit organization called Out & About in Boulder, CO, as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. There, I was able to combine my passion for dance with my passion for helping people. Each week, I taught movement and theater classes to children and adults with developmental disabilities. These classes were planned with activities that focused on improving physical, emotional, and mental skills. During this time I also joined Cindy Brandle Dance Company and am still currently dancing professionally with that company.

While living in Boulder, I met Miah Yager who experiences Down Syndrome. Miah and I built a friendship and a partnership through dance and movement practices. We began meeting weekly to make movement together and just dance! These weekly meetings grew into something more and in 2017, we made a piece together for the Every Body Dance Festival in Boulder, CO. We continued our dance-making as a small movement collective, Spark Movement Project. We had a few dancers join us and we began to grow as a physically integrated dance company. We collaborated on all projects and made work that allowed us to process emotions and create a movement about our shared life experiences. I love the work I do with Miah because there is no fear or hesitation in what we create. I often enjoy the rehearsal process much better than performing. I like that we can work together, create and play, and build a movement together that is adapted for each of our bodies.

In 2018, I stumbled upon Colorado Ballet and their Education and Community Engagement Department. They were hiring an Education Accessibility Coordinator and I was so excited for this new opportunity. I started the part-time position and also worked part-time at Out & About. Fast forward to the summer of 2019, Colorado Ballet asked me to come on full-time to expand their offerings for people with disabilities and I accepted. I absolutely love my position with the ballet and the things that I get to do for the Denver community. One of our main goals is making dance more accessible and everyday I feel so blessed to be doing this work and bringing dance to community members that may not otherwise get the opportunity.

At the end of 2019, Miah and I decided to re-brand our movement company to be called Beam+. The name change came as we discussed wanting to explore all artistic mediums, not just dance. We are looking forward to growing our company!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been a smooth road but not everything in my life has been smooth, and I’m grateful for that. One of my biggest obstacles is my own mind. It’s my mind telling me I’m not good enough, or creative enough, or strong enough to do what I am doing. I can finally say that I am a proud queer artist, but that did not happen overnight. Growing up queer in a traditional midwestern home in Iowa had its challenges. I hid who I was for a long time and Colorado made me realize I didn’t have to hide. The people I’ve met here have changed my life completely. The people I’ve met here have helped me realize that what I have to offer the world is valuable.

Beam+ – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Beam+ is belonging.equity.access.movement. We are a physically integrated movement company that provides equitable access to dance and collaborative artistic opportunities for all people. We specialize in three things; first we provide a collaborative space for people of all ages, races, genders, disabilities, etc. This collaborative space shines through in our rehearsal process. I do not solely direct the group or choreograph for the group. We all have a say and create the movement together. Secondly, we communicate stories and life experiences through dance and other artistic collaborations. Our movement comes from a place of deep reflection and movement improvisation. We partner with musicians and are looking forward to partnering with artists of other mediums for projects in the future. Lastly, through our work, I hope that we can educate the community about inclusion and the importance of diversity in the arts, especially in the dance field.

I am most proud that Beam+ does not turn anyone away. We are a small group right now, but we accept anyone into our company regardless of dance experience. Our process is inclusive and our movement is adapted and made for the bodies that dance it. I believe this stance also sets us apart as most professional dance companies. You need a certain level of experience to join and excel. We are looking for passionate people that love to collaborate and learn!

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m not sure I believe that luck got me to where I am today but many events in my life could be seen as ‘lucky’. I think a certain amount of privilege got me to where I am today and I think about that often and how I can use my privilege to be an ally for others. I do not identify as having a disability, I am a white queer woman and while I have privilege because of my white skin, the queer-identifying part of myself is not always treated with the same respect from others. I’ve learned to fight for others’ acceptance of that part of me and I hope with my ‘luck’ I can help others find their voice and passion.

Contact Info:

• Email: bridgetheddens@gmail.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beamplusyou/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beamplusyou/?hl=en

Image Credit:
Alex Guardia

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