John Alex McBride is originally from Lafayette, Louisiana. He received his BFA from The University of Arizona in Tucson and is currently an MFA candidate at Hollins University. Alex has danced and trained with San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, River North Dance Chicago, 10 Hairy Legs (NYC), The Limón Dance Company (NYC), and Basin Dance Collective (Lafayette). He has performed, taught, and toured across North and Central America, and Europe, performing works by Jose Limón, Ted Shawn, Kate Weare, Adam Weinert, Adam Barruch, Colin Conner, and Clare Cook. Alongside performing, Alex has begun choreographing original work and researching archival American modern dance. Most recently, he was nominated for a BESSIE award (2020) for his role in Adam Weinerts reconstruction, MONUMENTS: Echoes in the Dance Archives, which was staged at the New York Public Library. Now based in Louisiana; McBride is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and the Associate Artistic Director of Basin Dance Collective.

Who makes up your art circle?

My art circle encompasses every person I have come to know within the broad artistic community. Most importantly, this circle includes the artists that have come before us, the ones who have paved the pathways in which we all create. The artistic circle is an infinite lineage that connects us all.

How do you expand your art circle?

I am constantly seeking new relationships and connections in order to grow my art circle. Lafayette creatives are incredibly collaborative, and I believe that these collaborations foster growth within each person’s circle. Much like a quilt, the artists in this community are all woven together, which creates the colorful fabric that we call home.

What value do you see in having a creative community?

A creative community provides more than just a vibrant haven for artists, it also fosters innovation within the broader economy and promotes progressive ideas as the community expands. Without the creative sector, a community tends to dim.

How does your artistic approach contribute to your community?

I want to contribute to this community as both a; 1) teacher: returning knowledge to eager artists and creatives, 2) student: forever growing in my own artistry as a dancer, performer, and creator, 3) advocate: continuously pushing for more opportunity and personal artistic freedom for every person that wishes the same within the community.