RESUME


RESUME


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PROFILE
Highly motivated, results-driven, and tenacious theatre director and dramaturge for classical and contemporary plays and musicals, with over twenty years of national and international experience in arts administration, stage direction, choreography, performing, project planning, and academic teaching.Adept at engendering conversation on race relations and cultural inclusion, specifically related to text analysis and theatrical form.Effective at heightening and diversifying philosophical discourse within world theatre history and performance studies as related to the African diaspora.  

ACHIEVEMENTS & CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Awarded Brooklyn Academy of Music’s 2019—2020 Chuck Davis Emerging Choreographer Fellowship First African-American to earn the Marcus Institute Opera Directing Fellowship from The Juilliard SchoolFeatured Choreography on Beyoncé’s Coachella Performance, along with all of her national and international toursMember of Beyoncé’s Creative Team for nearly 12 years, received numerous awards for work with BeyoncéBroadway Choreographer: VIOLET. (Award Nods: 4 Tonys, 3 Outer Critic Circles, 3 Drama Desks, & 3 Drama Leagues)Creative Director for multiple Grammy Award nominated, major label recording artist Jazmine SullivanAssociate Creative Director for Mariah Carey’s Sweet Sweet Fantasy, European tourReoccurring on-air personality and judge of Nigeria’s top-rated television show “Maltina Dance All”Acclaimed Resident Choreographer on Fox Television’s So You Think You Can DanceOp-ed writer for OkayPlayer.com, OkayAfrica.com, the HuffingtonPost.com

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP
Apollo Theater, Harlem, NY, 2018 – 2019Executive Intern to Kamilah Forbes (Executive Producer and Artistic Director of The Apollo Theater)Accompanied Ms. Forbes in board meetings and strategic planning sessionsAssisted Ms. Forbes in strategic partnerships with the City of New YorkDiscussions around executive programming and organizational budgetsMovin’ Legacy, Inc., 2016 – PresentFounder & Chief Executive Officer Established Movin’ Legacy as an Indianapolis-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the ethnology and documentation of contemporary and traditional dance from Africa and the African diaspora. Movin’ Legacy’s mission is to promote dance legacy through the preservation, cultivation, and celebration of artistic works from Africa and the African diaspora.Integrated research and culture while educating and fostering individual and collective transformation.Navigated and built strong relationships with Indianapolis’ philanthropic and charitable giving community.Developed strategic partnerships to enhance and strengthen arts landscape Indianapolis.Created Dance Heritage Festival with Indiana Black Expo/Summer Celebration and Lilly Endowment Inc. Jazmine Sullivan, RCA Records Recording Artist, 2008 – 2017Coaching & Creative DirectorPerformance coach and artist development.Coordinated creative design and production of national and international shows including staging and choreography.Coordinated band members, and negotiated contracts for rental facilities for rehearsals and production upgrades.Negotiated all creative aspects of touring show with promoters.Beyoncé, Parkwood Entertainment, Televised, Filmed Events, and World Tours, 2006 – 2017Creative Collaborator & ChoreographerCoordinated with client to ensure that personal style was fully represented through all aspects of the work.Choreographed and staged numerous featured works for over twelve years.Coached and developed client for national and international tours and live television appearances.Collaborated closely with lead creative director to oversee product including hiring, coordinating and training talent.Formed and enhanced a style and system to be repeated into perpetuity.Instrumental in the creation of three music videos and coordinated with the Project Lead to ensure quality control.Mariah Carey, Sweet, Sweet Fantasy European Tour, March 2016Associate Creative DirectorCollaborated internationally with a team of designers and the executive creative team to build creative solutions.Spearheaded numerous design elements of the European tour. Negotiated contracts between client and talent. Facilitated meetings with producers, promoters and the client to develop a system for accomplishing the work.Managed, charted, and sustained all creative elements to ensure quality control within budget and time limitations. Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Movin’ Commercial Dance Intensive, June 2013 & August 2020Program DirectorDeveloped and programmed the Summer Intensive.Facilitated auditions of almost 3,500 potential students.Hired ten high-caliber celebrity, teaching faculty from New York to Los Angeles.Motivated support staff, education director and executive director to implement the program.Designed six daily classes for three weeks including lecturers from NY and LA to prepare students for the business management of arts and entertainment.Successfully pioneered and implemented programming for Jacob’s Pillow board members, donors and the public.Inglewood Unified School Districts and Santa Monica College – Theatre Arts Education Collaborative, 2004 – 2008Program DirectorDeveloped and implemented a performing arts department in City Honors High School.Raised over $200,000 to fund an annual theatrical performance.Designed an arts training curriculum for youth, along with a mentoring program for celebrities to work with youth.Hired teaching staff and designers with knowledge, skills and abilities to work with youth.Standardized, produced, directed and choreographed artistic works with trained youth.

DIRECTION AND CHOREOGRAPHY – Selected credits
International & National Commercial Theatrical Directing Credits – SelectedMaking Micheaux (Book by J. Kearney/Music by A. Horne)Prospect Theatre Company2021The African Company Presents Richard III (C. Brown)The Juilliard School20211776 Broadway Revival (co-directing with Diane Paulus)Roundabout Theatre2021A Raisin in the Sun (L. Hansberry)Baker Center for the ArtsFebruary 202048Hours in…Holy Ground 2019National Black Theatre FestivalAugust 2019Egg; or Anythin’ Dipped in Egg Gone Soften (J. O’Brian)Athena Theatre CompanyJune 2019Synching Ink (Nsangou Njikam)Joe’s Pub at The Public TheatreJanuary 2019Bridges (C. Davis / D. Cohen)Amas Theatre / A.R.T. New YorkNovember 201848Hours in…Harlem (N. Njikam)Harlem 9 / National Black TheatreAugust 2018Memphis, The Musical/ 2015 & 2017 (J. DiPietro)HoriPro, Inc (Japan)2015 & 2017Theatrical Directing Credits – NYC Theatre (non-commercial) – SelectedBayano, A Congo Masquerade (D. Holnes)National Black TheatreMarch 2020The Bandaged Place (H. Rivers)Roundabout TheatreJanuary 2020Brother Nat (Asim/Asim/Jones/Sneed)New York Musical FestivalJuly 2019Romeo and Juliet (W. Shakespeare)Classical Theatre of HarlemMarch 2019The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World (S. Parks)Lenfest TheatreFebruary 2019Funnyhouse of a Negro (A. Kennedy)Lenfest TheatreFebruary 2019Topdog/Underdog (S. Parks)Nash Studio TheatreDecember 2018The Tragedy of Macbeth (W. Shakespeare)Nash Studio TheatreMay 2018The Trojan Women, A Blues Opera (Euripides)Morris A. Schapiro TheatreApril 2018Uncle Vanya (A. Chekhov)Morris A. Schapiro TheatreNovember 2017Lil’ Junior (J. Page & E. Wiest)Morris A. Schapiro TheatreOctober 2017Love & Happiness (G. Heron)Morris A. Schapiro TheatreMarch 2016Commissioned Directing & Choreography Credits – SelectedGenius To The Beat of Soul (D. Asante)Indiana Repertory TheatreJune 2016Hooded (J. Page)The Painted Bride (PHL)November 2013Beauty, I Am (J. Page)Muntu Dance Theatre of ChicagoJuly 2012Star of the Show, The Untold Story of James Brown (J. Page)Cleo Parker-Robinson Dance Co.April 2012Broadway Choreography Credits – Selected1776 (P. Stone)Roundabout Theatre CompanyJune 2021Violet (J. Tesori / B. Crawley)Roundabout Theatre CompanyFebruary 2014NYC Theatre, Choreography Credits – SelectedBacha Bazi (G. Dean)New York Theatre WorkshopAugust 2013Mlima’s Tale (L. Nottage)Westport Country PlayhouseOctober 2019Regional Theatre, Choreography Credits – Selected1776 (P. Stone & S. Edwards)American Repertory TheatreApril 2020Company (S. Sondheim / G. Furth)Barrington Stage CompanyAugust 2017 Broadway Bounty Hunter (J. Iconis)Barrington Stage CompanyAugust 2016Television & Film, Choreography Credits – Selected Freedom (Feature Film by T. Chey)Cuba Gooding, Jr.October 2012So You Think You Can Dance (J. Thacker)Fox TV NetworkJuly 2009Run The World (Girls)BeyoncéJuly 2011NAACP Televised Image Awards CeremonyOpening & Closing SequencesJune 2005Choreography & Assistant Directing in OperaDon Giovanni (L. Da Ponte / W. Mozart) – dir. Emma GriffinPeter J. Sharp Theatre/ JuilliardApril 2019The Turn of the Screw (M. Piper / B. Brittan) – dir. John GiampietroPeter J. Sharp Theatre/JuilliardNovember 2018The Turn of the Screw (M. Piper / B. Brittan) – dir. Kate WhoriskyMannes Opera, The New SchoolNovember 2019

PERFORMANCE STUDIES RESEARCH EXPEDITIONS
Cuban Ethnological Research in Theatre, Storytelling & DanceHavana, Camaguey, Santiago de Cuba2018Malian Folklore, Theatre, Dance, and Music EthnologyMali, West Africa2011 – 2015 Senegalese Folklore, Theatre, Dance and Music EthnologyNorthern Senegal, West Africa2006 – 2008Mandingo Folklore, Theatre, Dance and Music EthnologyCasamance, Senegal, West Africa2006 – 2008Malinke and Djola Folklore, Theatre, Dance and Music EthnologyGambia, West Africa2008Balanta and Manjaka Theatre, Dance, and Music StudiesGuinea-Bissau, West Africa2005 & 2008Traditional and Neo-Traditional Guinean Theatre, Dance and Music StudiesGuinea, West Africa2005 – 2008Chuck Davis’ Cultural Arts Safari (Dr. Charles Davis)Senegal and Gambia, West Africa1996

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Collegiate Teaching Harvard University’s Theatre, Dance, and Media StudiesLecturer (Cambridge, MA)2020-Present The Juilliard  School, Vocal Arts/Opera DepartmentGuest Faculty (New York, NY)2021Muhlenburg CollegeResident Lecturer (Allentown, PA)2020University of Ouagadougou’s International Dance FestivalGuest Artist (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso)2013University of North Carolina, GreensboroVisiting Professor (Greensboro, NC)2011–2015Duke UniversityGuest Choreographer (Raleigh, NC)2012University of California, IrvineAdjunct Professor (Irvine, CA)2004–2006University of PennsylvaniaResident Director/Choreographer for “African Rhythms” (Philadelphia, PA)1999–2003

AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS
2021 Honorary Doctorate (Muhlenberg College) 2019—2020 Chuck Davis Emerging Choreographer Fellowship Award (winner); Brooklyn Academy of Music2019—2020 Orchard Project Cohort; Saratoga, NY Artists Retreat2019 Innovative Arts & Culture Award with Indiana Black Expo and Movin’ Legacy! (winner); Lilly Endowment Inc. 2018 Dean’s Travel Award (winner) from Columbia University2017 Berkshire Theatre Award (nomination), “Outstanding Choreography,” Company at BSC2016 Berkshire Theatre Award (winner), “Outstanding Choreography,” Broadway Bounty Hunter at BSC2016 -2018 Dean’s Scholarship Award (winner), Columbia University School of the Arts; MFA Program2015 Yomiuri Theatre Award (nomination), “Best Musical in Japan for 2015,” Memphis, The Musical; HoriPro2012 Fulbright-Hayes (winner), Educational and Cultural Exchange Act (diplomatic award)2011 MTV’s Video Music Award (winner), “Best Choreography,” Beyoncé’s “Run The World (Girls)”2011 SOUL TRAIN MUSIC AWARD (winner), “Best Dance Video,” Beyoncé’s “Run The World (Girls)”2011 The Root 100 Award (winner), Top 100 African-American Influencers 2005 Emmy Award (nomination), “Outstanding Choreography,” the NAACP Image Awards2009 – 2010 ACCA Award (winner), “Outstanding Broadway Chorus,” original cast member of FELA! On Broadway2008 (winner) Funding for New Work Grant, Harlem Stage, New York City, NY2007 (winner) CLIMB Leadership, Community & Arts Leadership Award, Los Angeles, CA2005 (winner) Cultural Arts Partners Grant – Master/Apprentice Program, Philadelphia, PA2004 (winner) CEC New Edged Choreographers Award, Philadelphia, PA

EDUCATION
Master of Fine Arts: Theater Directing, 2016—2019 Columbia University, School of the Arts, New York, NYClassical Directing (Greek Tragedy, Brecht, Chekhov, and Shakespeare) – Brian KulickContemporary Theatre and Opera Directing – Anne BogartTheater Design and Collaboration (NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts) – Constance HoffmanOpera Directing – Stephen WadsworthDirecting Wilson (Independent Study on the Dramaturgy of August Wilson) – Stephen HendersonTrends in Contemporary Theatre -Ted ChapinTV Writing and Production – David Arnold KlassView Points (Directing Actors & Devising Theatre) – Kelly MauerSite Specific Theatrical Producing – Anne HamburgerPlanning a Theatre Season (Artistic Leadership & Programming Administration) – Christian ParkerThe Juilliard School, Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts, New York, NYMarcus Institute Opera Directing Fellowship2018 to 2019Commercial Theatre Institute (for Producers), New York, NYFunds development and contract negotiation for producing in commercial and nonprofit venues2009 The University of the Arts, School of Dance, Philadelphia, PABFA in Dance Performance (Dean’s List & Graduated with High Honors & Prizes)2002