News

Dance Iquail to Premiere Director/Choreographer Iquail Shaheed's "Black Swan," @ Ailey Citigroup Theater, February 13th & 14th

Posted February 10, 2015

Dance Iquail will present the premiere of director/choreographer Iquail Shaheed's "Black Swan," an exploration of the experience of the black ballerina as a window into issues of race, identity, and isolation, set to music by artist/activist Nina Simone. Headquartered in both NYC and Iquail's hometown of Philadelphia, the company will present "Black Swan" in NYC, February 13 & 14 at Ailey Citigroup Theater. (there will also be a February 27 performance at Philadelphia's Mandell Theater.)

Iquail uses the experience of the black ballerina as a starting point to examine issues of race and identity, also incorporating elements of performance art to investigate these psychological issues. With "Black Swan," the choreographer remains true to his commitment to use the art of dance as a conduit for combating issues of social injustice experienced primarily by the disadvantaged. (The work runs 75 minutes and includes some nudity.)

Iquail Shaheed was trained at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts and with Philadanco, subsequently dancing with Danco II. He has earned scholarships to the Ailey School, Martha Graham School, Paul Taylor School, and Juilliard, among others, and received a BFA in Ballet Performance from the University of the Arts and an MFA from SUNY/Purchase. His other performing credits include dancing with Compagnie Thor in Brussels, and at home with the companies of Sean Curran, Ronald K. Brown and Fred Benjamin. His Broadway credits include The Lion King, Purlie, and Hot Feet. As a teacher, specializing in the Horton style, Iquail is on the faculty of the Ailey School, Steps on Broadway, and the Harlem School of the Arts, and has guest teaching engagements in Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. He created his cutting-edge Dance Iquail seven years ago to educate and empower both talented dancers and audiences, and also to offer a positive influence to inner city youth through education and community awareness.

Friday & Saturday, February 13 & 14 at 7:30 PM
Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 West 55 Street (corner 9th Avenue)
Tickets: $25; $15 for students/seniors
Reservations: www.brownpapertickets.com ; or 1.800.838.300

www.danceiquail.org

photo: dancer Adama Ideozu
photographer: Rachel Neville