Hope Boykin
Hope Boykin | |
---|---|
Born | Durham, North Carolina, United States |
Education | American Dance Festival |
Occupation(s) | choreographer and dancer |
Years active | 1993–present |
Career | |
Current group | Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater |
Website | www.hopeboykindance.com |
Hope Boykin is an American dancer and choreographer who is currently a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.[1]
Early life and education
Boykin was born in Durham, North Carolina,[2] where she started taking dance classes at the age of four.[3] She went on to study with the American Dance Festival[2] and, while a student at Howard University in Washington, D.C., performed with Lloyd Whitmore’s New World Dance Company.[2]
Career
After leaving Howard University, Boykin commenced study at The Ailey School; while still a student there, she was invited to be a founding member of Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson's Complexions Contemporary Ballet.[4] From there, she went on to perform with Philadanco under Joan Myers Brown.[5] During this early period of her career, she also assisted choreographer Talley Beatty.[1]
In 2000, Boykin was invited to join the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.[1] Called "a small force of nature on the stage"[6] by The New York Times, in her career with Ailey she has performed an extensive repertoire in 71 countries across six continents.[7] She has also taken part in offstage Ailey initiatives, including hosting their Ailey All Access video series.[8] In 2020, she left the company. Her final performance with the company was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.[9]
Boykin also works as an educator, and joined the faculty of the University of Southern California (USC)'s Glorya Kaufman School of Dance as the artist in residence for the 2019-2020 academic year.[10] In 2020, she will serve as the artistic lead for the Kennedy Center Dance Lab (KCDL),[11] a two-week dance and leadership program for high school students.
Selected choreography
Boykin's work as a choreographer includes:
- Acceptance In Surrender[12] (2005) - commissioned by the Alvin Ailey American Dancer Theater and created in collaboration with Ailey Company members Abdur-Rahim Jackson and Matthew Rushing
- in.ter.pret[13] (2006) - commissioned by the Dallas Black Dance Theatre
- Go in Grace[14] (2008) - commissioned by the Alvin Ailey American Dancer Theater for the Company's 50th anniversary season, with music by gospel choir Sweet Honey in the Rock
- r-Evolution Dream[15] (2016) - commissioned by the Alvin Ailey American Dancer Theater, with score by Ali Jackson and historic and original text narrated by Tony Award-winning actor Leslie Odom Jr.[3]
- MomentsUponMoments[16] (2018) - commissioned by Damian Woetzel for DEMO at the Kennedy Center and reinterpreted for the 2019 Vail Dance Festival
- Tribute to Joan Myers Brown[17] (2019) - commissioned by the 2019 Bessie Awards as part of a tribute to Joan Myers Brown in recognition of her lifetime achievement award for work as a dance education pioneer
- On. Toward. Press.[18] (2020) - commissioned by the Dallas Black Dance Theatre
Honors
- Bessie Award (1998) - Outstanding Performer (with Philadanco/Dance Women Living Legends)[19]
- Urban Bush Women Choreographic Center Fellow (2019-20)[20]
References
- ^ a b c "Hope Boykin". Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. 2010-02-09. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
- ^ a b c "Hope Boykin". Dance Spirit. 2012-11-14. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
- ^ a b Savané, Erickka Sy (2016-12-01). "Alvin Ailey's Hope Boykin on How MLK Inspired Her New Work". EBONY. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
- ^ "Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Hope Boykin". Dance Informa Magazine. 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
- ^ "Philadanco alums a hit in Ailey company's 'Odetta'". The Philadelphia Tribune. 8 February 2015. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
- ^ Dunning, Jennifer (2003-01-04). "DANCE REVIEW; Ailey's Talent, in Grief And in Sly Celebration". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
- ^ "Alvin Ailey dancer and choreographer Hope Boykin is ethereal and graceful". Rolling Out. 2015-02-10. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
- ^ Clement, Olivia (2020-03-30). "Alvin Ailey Launches Online Streaming Series With Screening of Revelations March 30". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
- ^ Kourlas, Gia (June 10, 2020). "When the Dancers Have to Miss the Last dance". New York Times.
- ^ "Hope Boykin". USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
- ^ "Kennedy Center Dance Lab". The Kennedy Center.
- ^ "Acceptance In Surrender". Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. 2010-03-15. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
- ^ "Dallas Black Dance Theatre Opens 39th Season with Director's Choice Master Choreographer Hope Boykin Refreshes her Original DBDT Work". North Dallas Gazette. 2015-11-01. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
- ^ "Go In Grace". Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. 2010-03-12. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
- ^ "r-Evolution, Dream". Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. 2016-07-20. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
- ^ "Hope Boykin and Hope Boykin Dance". New York Live Arts.
- ^ Libbey, Peter (2019-10-15). "At Bessies, Solidarity and Community: 'Love You, Aunt Joan'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
- ^ "Dallas Black Dance Theatre will present a world premiere from choreographer Hope Boykin". Dallas News. 2020-02-06. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
- ^ "Award Archive". The Bessies. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
- ^ "URBAN BUSH WOMEN ANNOUNCES SECOND COHORT OF CHOREOGRAPHIC FELLOWSHIP CANDIDATES". Urban Bush Women. Retrieved 2020-05-20.