Dwight
Rhoden

Benois de la Danse nominee

A native of Dayton, Ohio who began dancing at age 17, Rhoden has performed with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, and as a principal dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. As a performer, he has appeared in numerous television specials, documentaries and commercials throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, and has been a featured performer on many PBS Great Performances specials.

In 1994, Rhoden and legendary dancer Desmond Richardson founded Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Together they have brought their unique brand of contemporary dance to the world for two decades. Complexions is widely considered as «America’s Original Multicultural Dance Company», and is celebrated for its pioneering spirit, and the building of a universal brand that continues to challenge traditional ideas, and redefine possibilities in the dance arena.

For over 18 years, Rhoden’s work has filled some of the most prestigious theaters across the globe.

Complexions and Rhoden’s work has been presented on five continents and in over 20 countries, including the United States, Canada, South America, Mexico, Europe, Asia, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, The Baltic Region, Egypt, Israel, and the Middle East.
Since 1994, Rhoden has created over 80 ballets for Complexions, as well as numerous other companies, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The Arizona Ballet, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Ballet Met, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Colorado Ballet, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, The Joffrey Ballet, Miami City Ballet, New York City Ballet (Diamond Project), North Carolina Dance Theatre, The Pennsylvania Ballet, Philadanco, Mariinsky Ballet, Minneapolis Dance Theater, Phoenix Dance Company, Sacramento Ballet, Oakland Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, The Washington Ballet, and Zenon Dance Company, among others. Mr. Rhoden has also directed and choreographed for television, film, theater, and live performances.

Rhoden is a beneficiary recipient of various honors and awards, including the New York Foundation for the Arts Award, The Choo San Goh Award for Choreography, and The Ailey School’s Apex Award in recognition of his extensive contributions to the field of dance. In 2014, Dwight Rhoden was celebrated with an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Boston Conservatory and was inducted into the Hall of Fame from New York Foundation for the Arts for outstanding choreography.

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