INTERVIEW WITH CHOREOGRAPHER RAYCE RISCH

 Born and raised in Hardin, TX, Rayce Risch developed a love for music at a young age. He would grow up to be the drum major of the Hardin HS Marching Band by his senior year. He continued to McNeese University as a Music Education major. However, he decided to pursue a musical career in Austin, TX. With a vision to start a band, he moved from Lake Charles, LA to Austin in 2017. With his move, he became involved with the professional color guard community, performing with Invictus World. Rayce then began his dance training with Austin Community College in 2018 as a Dance Major. 

Rayce’s piece, entitled “Momento Mori,” is a piece about introspection and dealing with inner demons. The audience is intended to have their own unique perception and interpretation. The aesthetic concept relies heavily on the cinematography of the piece. Rayce attributes the current COVID-19 pandemic to the thematic concept - the quarantine forced him to reflect upon himself and who he is. 

At ACC, Rayce attributes much of his growth to the faculty. He is grateful for Sunny Shen for teaching him how to move emotionally and Roxanne Gage for learning how to have fun with dance and understanding how the body moves. Outside the ACC Faculty, he draws his inspiration from artists like Brian Friedman, Erica Klein, and Isadora Duncan. Recently, Rayce performed with Blue Lapis Light. After ACC, he plans on transferring to the University of Texas at Austin to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance Education.

Watch Rayce’s dance on film, Momento Mori, December 4 & 5 at 7:30 pm. Visit the  Austin Community College Dance Department page for ticket and live streaming information.100% of contributions fund dance student scholarships.

Interview by Ryan Thornton