Hope Boykin
American dancer and choreographer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hope Boykin is an American dancer, choreographer and former member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.[1]
Hope Boykin | |
|---|---|
| Born | Durham, North Carolina, United States |
| Education | American Dance Festival |
| Occupations | choreographer and dancer |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Website | www.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 served 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
- How Love Sounds[19] (2025) - commissioned by the Kennedy Center for Paul Taylor Dance Company's 70th anniversary
Honors
- Bessie Award (1998) - Outstanding Performer (with Philadanco/Dance Women Living Legends)[20]
- Urban Bush Women Choreographic Center Fellow (2019-20)[21]