Victoria Covell

I am a recent graduate from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) majoring in Graphic Design with an immersion in Theater Arts.

I am from Jacksonville, Illinois. My previous experience was dancing for about 23 years and then I became involved with theater, here at RIT, in 2018.

I danced at Sara’s Studio of Dance for fifteen years and participated in the studio’s Dance Company and Competition Team. I also danced for The Jacksonville High School Varsity Dance team (The J’Ettes) and served as a Squad Leader.

I was the first Deaf dance soloist from my High School to compete in the illinois High School Association (IHSA) Drill Dance Competition and placed 11th in the State. 

I attended numerous dance conventions and competitions including Revolution Nationals in Chicago (2013) where I took first place in my solo age group and fifth overall. I have performed in The Nutcracker for the Springfield Ballet Company, the Morgan County Fair Talent Show taking first place, and the Illinois State Fair Talent Show placing third. In addition, I have performed at the Statue of Liberty in New York City, with Harlem Globetrotters, and Disneyland in California. 

In my senior year of high school, I presented the piece, I Am, to the world. I qualified for nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida, earning a platinum score, but more importantly, I shared my message with a wider audience. On April 27th, 2018, I competed in Dr. Munson’s Performing Arts Challenge at the annual Imagine RIT Festival where I won first place for sharing my story with my RIT family. As my YouTube video continues to be shared and viewed worldwide, I HOPE that people will see, despite having a profound hearing loss or any hearing loss at all, that deaf and hard-OF-hearing individuals Can enjoy music and dance.

After winning first place in 2018, this led me to many new opporTunities. Theater! I was cast in my first role ever as the lead in Cabaret, Sally Bowles. 

I spent four years involved with RIT/NTID Performing Arts. You might have seen me in Cabaret as Sally Bowles, I and You as Caroline, She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms as Agnes and Angels in America: Millennium Approaches as The Angel.

Throughout my theatre experience, I was nominated for KCACTF Irene Ryan’s scholarship (4 times) and made it to the top 15 finalist in my final year. One scene from Cabaret was nominated, as well as the entire show of I and You was selected to perform in KCACTF in Maryland.

In April 2023, I traveled to Roanoke, Virginia for my first Short film production called Moonlight on Water as Layla. Check out my recent work!