Renee Robinson
Encyclopedia
Renee Robinson is an American dancer from Washington, D.C.
, and performs as a Principal Dancer of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
. She began her dance training in classical ballet at the Jones-Haywood School of Ballet. She also attended the School of American Ballet
, the Dance Theatre of Harlem
and The Ailey School. Robinson was a member of the Alvin Ailey II before becoming a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1981.
Before joining AAADT, Robinson was a student at New York University
, majoring in dance and minoring in economics. She was torn between becoming a professional dancer or an attorney specializing in the arts.
She has worked with many renowned choreographers, such as Alvin Ailey
, Lar Lubovitch
, Donald McKayle
, Judith Jamison
, Ulysses Dove
, Jerome Robbins
, Bill T. Jones
, Garth Fagan
, Katherine Dunham
, Hans van Manen
and Carmen de Lavallade
.
Robinson has also performed at the televised Kennedy Center Awards. Other televised appearances include performing at President Clinton’s first inauguration, American Express advertisements, the Bill Cosby Special on Alvin Ailey and on the PBS special “A Hymm for Alvin Ailey”. In 2003, she performed at the White House State Dinner in honor of the President of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki
. In 2008, while performing in the East Room of the White House during the first dance event hosted by Michelle Obama
, Robinson hit one of the chandeliers while performing.
In their 2006 season, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (Dance Your Booty But Cheaks Off) will celebrate Robinson's twenty-fifth year with the company; her tenure is the longest of any female dancer in the company's history. As of 2010, she is the last dancer performing with the troupe who was personally chosen by the founder, Alvin Ailey.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and performs as a Principal Dancer of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is a modern dance company based in New York, New York. It was founded in 1958 by choreographer and dancer Alvin Ailey...
. She began her dance training in classical ballet at the Jones-Haywood School of Ballet. She also attended the School of American Ballet
School of American Ballet
The School of American Ballet is one of the most famous classical ballet schools in the world and is the associate school of the New York City Ballet, a leading international ballet company based at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. The school trains students from the...
, the Dance Theatre of Harlem
Dance Theatre of Harlem
Dance Theatre of Harlem is a ballet company and school of the allied arts founded in Harlem, New York City, USA in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook...
and The Ailey School. Robinson was a member of the Alvin Ailey II before becoming a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1981.
Before joining AAADT, Robinson was a student at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, majoring in dance and minoring in economics. She was torn between becoming a professional dancer or an attorney specializing in the arts.
She has worked with many renowned choreographers, such as Alvin Ailey
Alvin Ailey
Alvin Ailey, Jr. was an American choreographer and activist who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York. Ailey is credited with popularizing modern dance and revolutionizing African-American participation in 20th century concert dance...
, Lar Lubovitch
Lar Lubovitch
Lar Lubovitch is an American choreographer and founded his own dance company, the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company in 1968. Based in New York City, he and the company have toured worldwide....
, Donald McKayle
Donald McKayle
Donald McKayle is an African American modern dancer, choreographer, teacher, director and writer best known for creating socially conscious concert works during the 1950s and 60s that focus on expressing the human condition and more specifically, the black experience in America...
, Judith Jamison
Judith Jamison
Judith Anna Jamison is an American dancer and choreographer, best known as the Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater....
, Ulysses Dove
Ulysses Dove
Ulysses Dove was one of the most innovative contemporary choreographers of the past half-century.Dove began his dance training at Boggs Academy in Georgia...
, Jerome Robbins
Jerome Robbins
Jerome Robbins was an American theater producer, director, and choreographer known primarily for Broadway Theater and Ballet/Dance, but who also occasionally directed films and directed/produced for television. His work has included everything from classical ballet to contemporary musical theater...
, Bill T. Jones
Bill T. Jones
Bill T. Jones is an American artistic director, choreographer and dancer.-Early life:Jones was born in Bunnell, Florida and his family moved North as part of the Great Migration in the first half of the twentieth century. They settled in Wayland, New York, where Jones attended Wayland High School...
, Garth Fagan
Garth Fagan
Gawain Garth Fagan, CD is a Jamaican modern dance choreographer. He is the founder and artistic director of Garth Fagan Dance, a modern dance company based in Rochester, New York.-Early years:...
, Katherine Dunham
Katherine Dunham
Katherine Mary Dunham was an American dancer, choreographer, songwriter, author, educator, and activist...
, Hans van Manen
Hans van Manen
Hans van Manen is a Dutch ballet dancer, choreographer and photographer.He is a son of a German housemaid. He studied under Sonia Gaskell, Françoise Adret and Nora Kiss. Van Manen wrote many ballets. He worked for the Dutch National Ballet from 1973 to 1985. He was awarded the Erasmus Prize in...
and Carmen de Lavallade
Carmen De Lavallade
Carmen De Lavallade is a dancer, choreographer, professor and stage and film actress.-Early Years:Carmen De Lavallade was born in Los Angeles on March 6, 1931, to Afro-Creole parents from New Orleans, Louisiana. She was raised by her aunt who owned one of the first African American history...
.
Robinson has also performed at the televised Kennedy Center Awards. Other televised appearances include performing at President Clinton’s first inauguration, American Express advertisements, the Bill Cosby Special on Alvin Ailey and on the PBS special “A Hymm for Alvin Ailey”. In 2003, she performed at the White House State Dinner in honor of the President of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki is the current and third President of the republic of Kenya.Kibaki was previously Vice President of Kenya for ten years from 1978–1988 and also held cabinet ministerial positions, including a widely acclaimed stint as Minister for Finance , Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for...
. In 2008, while performing in the East Room of the White House during the first dance event hosted by Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is the wife of the 44th and incumbent President of the United States, Barack Obama, and is the first African-American First Lady of the United States...
, Robinson hit one of the chandeliers while performing.
In their 2006 season, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (Dance Your Booty But Cheaks Off) will celebrate Robinson's twenty-fifth year with the company; her tenure is the longest of any female dancer in the company's history. As of 2010, she is the last dancer performing with the troupe who was personally chosen by the founder, Alvin Ailey.
Select Performance Pieces
(Choreographer, Title)- Alvin Ailey, Blues Suite
- Alvin Ailey, Revelations
- Alvin Ailey, Maskela Langage
- Alvin Ailey, Cry
- Donald McKayle, Rainbow ‘Round My Shoulder
- Alvin Ailey, Night Creature
- George Fasion, Suite Otis
- Ulysses Dove, Bad Blood
- Ulysses Dove, Vespers
- Ulysses Dove, Episodes
- Judith Jamison, Forgotten Time
- Billy Wilson, The Winter of Lisbon
- Judith Jamison, Hymn
- Ronald K. Brown, Grace
- Carmen de Lavallade, Sweet Bitter Love