Jack Kuchmay is in his third year at Purdue and in the Dance Program. We invited him to share his experience dancing at Purdue as he is a prime example of someone with strong passions for his science-based major, and his arts minor. Jack demonstrated his creativity from the time he arrived in our classes and performance groups, always surprising us with the type of movement he creates, and his willingness to explore. After choreographing for XSeries and performing in both XSeries and the Purdue Contemporary Dance Company (PCDC) Jack was encouraged to step into leadership as well, since he models so many skills to his peers.

Hello! My name is Jack Kuchmay, I am a Junior in Natural Resources and Environmental Science with a concentration in Quality and Restoration, as well as a Dance Minor. I was born and raised in Indiana, specifically the Fort Wayne area. I first began dancing at the approximate time that COVID 19 hit. My sister had made a comment that I had no rhythm, and I set out on a mission to prove her as wrong as possible. I started dancing through pop dance tutorials on YouTube, and with the guidance of my friends, began taking proper dance classes in my senior year of high school. My first step into choreography was a short solo work for dance class in high school, and it is what truly drove me to seek out developing myself as a dancer and an artist.

What brought you to the Dance Program?  How did you find us?

I found the dance program through a friend in my senior year of high school. I was just starting to really delve into the world of concert dance at that point, and she suggested I look for dance info about Purdue. When I found the dance program, I immediately contacted my advisor to get classes added to my schedule, and the dance minor added to my degree path.

How has dance fit into your learning journey at Purdue?

Dance has truly been a quintessential part of my learning journey at Purdue. My first semester, it was my dance classes that helped me find a community and feel like I had a community to be with when away from home. As I continued to get involved with dance at Purdue, that community has only grown and it continues to be a pillar of support for me. It is a delightful break from all of my stem classes and is a place where I can be “Jack the Human” and not “Jack the Scientist”. It also provides an interesting addition to my studies. I often find myself making connections between the cycles of nature and dance techniques. These connections have often helped me in both the lab, and the studio.

Why have you chosen to step into leadership for XSeries? 

I initially was unsure about choosing to step into leadership for XSeries, however the club reached out to me and asked me to interview for a spot. That was the push I think I needed to feel like I could really step out and do the things I wanted to do. However, I ultimately chose to join leadership for the community. The dance community, and especially the XSeries community, was such an amazing thing for me and I want to help it be a place for others too!

You are a choreographer and are currently creating for both the 2025 PCDC Winter Works and the 2025 Xperimental concert. What inspires you to choreograph? What do these two performance venues offer that makes it exciting to create for both?

There are many things that inspire me to choreograph, but I like to start with a sort of “research question” for myself. It is something I ask myself about and then do my own exploration to find a start to an answer. Then, I take that idea into the studio and begin exploring it with my dancers as well. These questions, while not always, tend to find a start in relation to my major in environmental sciences. Issues such as global warming, pollution, and climate change are always in the back of my mind, but so are things such as the biological processes of angiosperms (flowering plants), the fragile symbioses between coral and their algae, and even the different types of ocean currents. I often find myself wondering if these concepts were to be expressed in dance, what movement textures would I want, and how would I want to see them expressed?

XSeries and PCDC both offer amazing opportunities that make it truly exciting to create for both! XSeries offers a wonderful and creative community where feedback is a regular process that helps expand my “research”. It also provides a more intimate stage space where the works I create can be a more immersive experience for my audience. PCDC offers a beautiful community as well! It provides me with a more professional setting to truly delve into the process of generating the work and playing with the intricacies of the piece. I also have a much longer time to develop my work with PCDC, which allows me to flesh out my ideas in a deeper way.

Do you have any favorite moments you have experienced in your time dancing with us to share?

My favorite memory of my time dancing with everyone is the community that we build. The cast members I am with each semester become like a small family. It is a truly beautiful thing to see each semester, and it makes it hard to single out a specific moment that shines above the rest.

Do you see dance playing a role in your future beyond college? What is the impact of our program on your longer term plans and goals?

Ever since I began dancing, I had an itch to create and share my own works. My time at Purdue has really allowed me to dive into the creative process and be the magic that brings a dance together. I see myself continuing to find places to choreograph as I exit Purdue and venture into the “adult world”, especially as I continue my degree path. Purdue’s dance classes and opportunities have helped me build the skills I need to continue making in the future, and I think that without them I wouldn’t be able to make the works I do today.

What else do you think the world should know about the Dance Program at Purdue?

Purdue’s dance program is one of the best things to ever happen to me. I think more people should know about both the variety of classes and activities that the program has to offer! Contact Improvisation, Choreography, Hip Hop, Jazz, Modern, etc. All of these classes provide a space for students to learn and grow in a supportive environment. XSeries and PCDC also provide a beautiful place for students to grow as choreographers, dancers, and tech crew. It is a program that prioritizes and supports the students’ experience to the fullest, and I think the world should know that.