March 13, 2025 | Columbus Underground
“Unique perspective is precisely what makes art, and life, beautiful”-Samantha Conte, dancer
Sarah Hixon, artistic director of Hixon Dance, sat down with dancer and company manager Samantha Conte to talk about her work with the company and what she finds inspiring. Samantha will perform with Hixon Dance in Frontiers: Music, Dance and Discovery on March 21-23, 2025.
Sarah: This is your fifth season performing with Hixon Dance. What has kept you part of the group for so long?
Samantha: I joined Hixon Dance in the middle of the pandemic when we were forced to rehearse from home. Our first time dancing in a room together was many months later. While that was an unorthodox introduction, it immediately showed me your [Sarah’s] strength as a director. Instead of shuttering the company until operations were allowed to resume in person, you [she] cultivated a collection of dance films featuring solos and group pieces, making it possible for us to still dance and connect even in isolation.
It was clear after my first rehearsal with the company that I knew this was where I wanted to stay. After three seasons with the company, you [Sarah] could tell I was itching to be even more involved with the company and gave me the opportunity to work as company manager alongside her and our rehearsal director Alicia Hann. I am proud of the atmosphere that all three of us work to create in the studio. I look forward to my continued growth as an artist and as a dancer with Hixon Dance.
Sarah: The company is preparing to perform Frontiers: Dance, Music and Discovery in March. What are you most excited about in this production?
Samantha: Frontiers: Dance, Music and Discovery is going to be a great show featuring Entangled, choreographed by Sarah Hixon and Biorhythmic Polychrome, choreographed by Alicia Hann, her debut work under Hixon Dance.
Performing is always exciting in its own right, but this year I am particularly thrilled to help bring Biorhythmic Polychrome to life. It has been a blast watching Alicia shape her piece from inception to its final form. Working on Biorhythmic Polychrome has also helped me tap into a new skill as a performer that I haven’t had to access in past performances.
One of the other reasons I love working with Hixon Dance is because of how much you [Sarah Hixon] values live music. Every year we’ve had live music and this year is no exception! There is an extra thrill when you can feed off the energy that live musicians bring to the space.
Sarah: What is something you want readers to know about you?
Samantha: I pride myself on being someone who will listen and support those around me no matter the situation. I know this is a strong value of mine because I grew up in the arts. Through the arts, people can learn compassion, acceptance and empathy, and most importantly showcase how unbelievably necessary it is to be surrounded by people who are different from you. Most of my work outside of performing has included working with kids ages three to 18 and I work hard to pass these values onto them as well. Unique perspective is precisely what makes art, and life, beautiful.
Sarah: What’s on your current playlist?
Samantha: I am a huge music lover and my playlists definitely reflect that. I probably have at least 50 playlists (and counting) on Spotify because I make new ones to reflect how I am feeling at any given time! Right now, Kendrick Lamar, Doechii and Tate McRae are on repeat. Some of the regulars on my playlists no matter my mood tend to be Harry Styles, Luke Hemmings, 5 Seconds of Summer, Benson Boone, Del Water Gap and Sabrina Carpenter. And, of course, I have countless dance class playlists for teaching that mostly feature instrumental music.
Sarah: What is one of your favorite things about Columbus?
Samantha: After years of training and performing in the Dayton and Cincinnati areas, Columbus has truly captured my heart. All my interests are right at my fingertips. Dancing and performing is fulfilled by my involvement with Hixon Dance but there is also a beautiful community of other dance artists around the city to support! Most of my free time is spent at hockey games or concerts, both of which I can access in downtown Columbus. Many of my weekends are spent catching Blue Jackets games at Nationwide Arena or popping over to Kemba Live!, A&R Music Bar or Newport Music Hall for concerts.
See Samantha Conte perform with Hixon Dance in Frontiers: Music, Dance and Discovery at Columbus Dance Theatre on March 21-23, 2025.
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