Hope Boykin

Hope Boykin is an American dancer and choreographer who is currently a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.[1]

Hope Boykin
Born
Durham, North Carolina, United States
EducationAmerican Dance Festival
Occupationchoreographer and dancer
Years active1993–present
Current groupAlvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Websitewww.hopeboykindance.com

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

References
  1. "Hope Boykin". Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. 2010-02-09. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  2. "Hope Boykin". Dance Spirit. 2012-11-14. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  3. Savané, Erickka Sy (2016-12-01). "Alvin Ailey's Hope Boykin on How MLK Inspired Her New Work". EBONY. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  4. "Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Hope Boykin". Dance Informa Magazine. 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  5. "Philadanco alums a hit in Ailey company's 'Odetta'". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  6. 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.
  7. "Alvin Ailey dancer and choreographer Hope Boykin is ethereal and graceful". Rolling Out. 2015-02-10. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  8. Clement, Olivia (2020-03-30). "Alvin Ailey Launches Online Streaming Series With Screening of Revelations March 30". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  9. Kourlas, Gia (June 10, 2020). "When the Dancers Have to Miss the Last dance". New York Times.
  10. "Hope Boykin". USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  11. "Kennedy Center Dance Lab". The Kennedy Center.
  12. "Acceptance In Surrender". Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. 2010-03-15. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  13. "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.
  14. "Go In Grace". Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. 2010-03-12. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  15. "r-Evolution, Dream". Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. 2016-07-20. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  16. "Hope Boykin and Hope Boykin Dance". New York Live Arts.
  17. 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.
  18. "Dallas Black Dance Theatre will present a world premiere from choreographer Hope Boykin". Dallas News. 2020-02-06. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  19. "Award Archive". The Bessies. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  20. "URBAN BUSH WOMEN ANNOUNCES SECOND COHORT OF CHOREOGRAPHIC FELLOWSHIP CANDIDATES". Urban Bush Women. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
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