Heather Stockton and Garth Grimball created Wax Poet(s) in 2013 as a vehicle to create their own work, as a laboratory to collaborate with artists across mediums, and to challenge the ingrained dynamics of creative relationships by keeping their practice amorphous. Our work is a reflection of who we are -- skinny, fat, tall, short, queer, insecure, brazen, thirsty pop culture nerds, history buffs. Our work represents our desires -- intimacy, validation, challenge, community, sweat, awareness, subtleties that enlarge the micro and reduce the macro.
Wax Poet(s) "invite outside dancers, musicians, and ultimately the audience into an exploration...demonstrating the company's generosity and love of collaboration." Julia Davidson, Bay Area Dance Critic
Wax Poet(s) "invite outside dancers, musicians, and ultimately the audience into an exploration...demonstrating the company's generosity and love of collaboration." Julia Davidson, Bay Area Dance Critic
Heather Stockton (Co-Director) is a choreographer, educator, and multi-disciplinary collaborator with a passion for collective, creative growth and systemic change. Heather is the founder of the local dance collective, Wax Poet(s), where she dances between roles as co-director, choreographer, and performer. Heather has choreographed and produced evening length shows at CounterPulse, Joe Goode Annex, and Noh Space. Her choreography has been presented nationally at On the Boards Theater, Velocity Dance Center, Littlefield Concert Hall, Temescal Arts Center, Lisser Theater, Harvard University, and Landis Performing Arts Center. Her work with Wax Poet(s) has been supported by CA$H grant, Zellerbach Family Foundation, the Center for Contemporary Music, and the CounterPulse co-production grant. Originally from Riverside, CA, Heather had the honor of dancing in works by Amy O’Neal/Tiny Rage, Katie Faulkner, Sheldon Smith, Shinichi Iova-Koga, Merce Cunningham (staged by Holley Farmer), and Wade Madsen. Heather received her BFA Cum Laude and MFA in Choreography and Performance with an emphasis in social justice at Mills College where she was awarded the E.L. Wiegand Foundation Award for outstanding merit in performance and choreography. Heather is energized by community practices with an intersectional lens. As a proud big bodied dancer, she works towards inclusivity for all bodies and ability in dance.
Garth Grimball (Co-Director) is a native of North Carolina where he received his BA in Anthropology and Dance at UNC Asheville. He danced with Asheville Ballet for five seasons performing new and repertory works. He received his MFA in choreography and performance from Mills College where he was the recipient of the Liatis Foundation Dance Scholarship award and performed in works by Merce Cunningham, Mel Wong, Sonya Delwaide, Sheldon Smith, Katie Faulkner, and Molissa Fenley. His choreography has been featured in CounterPulse 2018 Spring season, ODC's Pilot Program, 2016 & 2017, SpectorDance Choreographer's Showcase, 2015. In addition to Wax Poet(s) he performs with Dana Lawton Dances and Oakland Ballet.
Garth Grimball (Co-Director) is a native of North Carolina where he received his BA in Anthropology and Dance at UNC Asheville. He danced with Asheville Ballet for five seasons performing new and repertory works. He received his MFA in choreography and performance from Mills College where he was the recipient of the Liatis Foundation Dance Scholarship award and performed in works by Merce Cunningham, Mel Wong, Sonya Delwaide, Sheldon Smith, Katie Faulkner, and Molissa Fenley. His choreography has been featured in CounterPulse 2018 Spring season, ODC's Pilot Program, 2016 & 2017, SpectorDance Choreographer's Showcase, 2015. In addition to Wax Poet(s) he performs with Dana Lawton Dances and Oakland Ballet.
