zachary j. frazee

is a dance artist, movement specialist, and photographer based in rochester, ny. they grew up in rochester and attended the college at brockport where they graduated in 2014 with a bfa in dance. since then, they have gone on to perform with companies and choreographers such as biodance, electricgrit dance, project 44, nacre dance group, create a space now, saratoga city ballet, new york state ballet, zoe cushman walders, and solange rodrigues, among others. in 2018, frazee founded their dance company, frazee feet dance, and went on to create works that have been featured in the rochester fringe festival, the mid-atlantic choreographers showcase, band chicago, dogtown dance festival, vision of sound music and dance festival, and more. during this time, they were also commissioned to create works for the empire state youth dance ensemble, saratoga city ballet, new york state ballet, lindenwood university, and various local dance studios. in 2021, frazee was the recipient of the new york state choreographer's initiative (nysci), a program funded by the nys dance force in which individual artists are allotted time and resources to research new work without the pressure of performance. while performing and creating work, frazee discovered their love for teaching dance. they currently teach at two local dance studios, fitzsimmons dance factory and jody b's studio of dance, but their teaching practice has also brought them into other spaces such as art in motion dance academy, new york state ballet training program, saratoga city ballet, the aquinas institute, suny fredonia, nazareth college, the college at brockport, and hobart & william smith colleges, among others. they specialize in teaching contemporary dance and ballet technique with a philosophy that emphasizes finding the joy, power, and ease within movement.

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with their love of dance and movement, it only made sense that frazee eventually sought out other forms of movement in which to study. this started in the form of group exercise. they received their group fitness certification through the greater rochester ymca in 2018 and went on to teach cardio dance and silver sneakers classes at various ymca locations throughout rochester. they then went on to receive their certification in barre above technique later that same year and eventually found their way to evolution pilates of rochester, where they received their certification in mat and reformer work in 2019. frazee began teaching at evolution pilates in 2020 where they have now worked with hundreds of clients, helping people rehabilitate injuries and chronic pain, release stress, gain strength and flexibility, and (re)establish a love for movement and exercise. in 2022, they went on to receive their certification in the use of the pilates chair, barrel, and cadillac as a way to continue to offer their clients accessibility and options within movement.

 

frazee has had a long standing passion for photography, but they didn't start working as a freelance photographer until 2020. what started as a hobby transformed into a thriving business that has allowed them to work with and photograph many local artists, groups, events, and performances, including the rochester contemporary art center. in 2021, one of their photographs was featured in roco's exhibit "last year on earth."