Clifford
Williams

Benois de la Danse nominee

Clifford Williams began his dance training at F. H. LaGuardia High School of Art and the Performing Arts. He attended The Ailey School and The School of American Ballet, both on scholarship. He was a first-level recipient of a National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts award in 1998. In 1998, he attended The Juilliard School, where he danced works by many choreographers including Lar Lubovitch, Igal Perry Hans Van Manen, Jose Limon and Mauricio Wainrot. In 2001, he was invited to join Dance Theatre of Harlem, where he danced until 2003. In 2004, Mr. Williams joined Complexions Contemporary Ballet (New York, NY). He has danced works by Dwight Rhoden, William Forsythe, Nicolo Fonte and Jae Man Joo. Since 2004, Mr. Williams has assisted Director/Choreographer Dwight Rhoden on numerous projects including ballets for North Carolina Dance Theater, Pittsburgh Ballet, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and The Diana Vishneva Project as well as for the television show So You Think You Can Dance.

He has also set Dwight Rhoden's works on schools such as The Ailey School and NYU Tisch School for the Arts. In addition to setting works for Dwight Rhoden, Williams is certified in teaching the official Contemporary Ballet technique of Complexions Contemporary Ballet; and continues to be a part of educational for Complexions.

In 2008, Mr. Williams left Complexions to dance as a Principal dancer with Compañia Nacional De Danza under the Direction of Nacho Duato. During that time, he danced many principal parts and was featured in creations by Mr. Duato. Mr Williams rejoined Complexions in 2009, where he danced as principal until 2012 before being appointed to artist in residence.

Mr Williams made his television debut as the title character in Debbie Allen's The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker which aired on the BET network in 2014. Mr. Williams is also featured on the upcoming television mini series Flesh and Bone due to air on Starz network in 2015. Most recently Mr. Williams appeared as Meyer Wolfsheim in an international production of The Great Gatsby directed by Dwight Rhoden.

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