Ray Mercer - Choreographer
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With that said:
MEET RAY MERCER
Omaha Nebraska native, Ray Mercer is presently in the Broadway cast of The Lion King. He began his dance training at the University of New Orleans. He furthered his studies with Deeply Rooted Theater (Chicago, IL) and at The Alvin Ailey American Dance School and Broadway Dance Center (New York City). Ray was a company member of The Detroit City Dance Company, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater and was a guest artist with Boston Ballet and Joel Hall Dancers.
He has taught extensively for schools and community outreach programs including the Alvin Ailey Summer Camp Program, the Joffrey Ballet Educational Program, and the National High School Dance Exchange.
Ray won top honors for best presentation for his choreography representing the Lion King in the BC/EFA’s 17th Annual Gypsy of the Year Competition in 2005. His work also earned The Michigan Dance Council Award and Chicago’s Black Theater Alliance Award. Ray has served as resident choreographer for the All-City Dance Companies in Detroit and Chicago. His choreography has been commissioned by Dallas Black Dance Theater, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, and DRA:Dancers Responding to Aids/New York and has been featured in the New York Times, the Chicago Sun Times, and Movmnt Magazine.
Ray has worked with Aretha Franklin, Rod Stewart, Stephanie Mills, Kevin “Iega” Jeff, George Faison and Louis Johnson.
Ray is a fantastic choreographer and his work is frequently featured in the New York area. For a sample of his choreography, go out to The Ailey Citigroup Theater on September 12th or 13th!
Ray's critically acclaimed work "8 Minutes till Sunrise" will be featured in the Dance Gallery Festival.
Details:
Friday, September 12, 2008 at 7:30pm
End Time:
Saturday, September 13, 2008 at 9:30pm
Location:
The Ailey Citigroup Theater
Street:
405 West 55th street (at 9th ave)
City/Town:
New York, NY
tickets are $20 and can be purchased at www.smarttix.com
Featuring dancers:
Kristina Bethel
Kevin Petit
James Johnson
Iquail Shaheed
Alicia Pegues
Lanette Stampley
Music: Bojork and MeShelle Ndegeocello
***the work is about a community of people, or energies who must work together heal their relationships with each other and find degree of personal peace... Before the sunrises!
The festival will also feature works by:
Charles O. Anderson, Camille A. Brown, Yung-li Chen, Carol Dilley & Jill Eng, Isabel Gotzkowsky and Friends, Iquail Shaheed Johnson, Katie McCusker, Rick McCullough, Pascal Rekoert, Mojca Ussar and Astrid von Ussar
New work featuring the cast of The Lion King on Broadway will be performed as part of the BC/EFA fundraiser Monday and Tuesday December 8th and 9th!! Click here for tickets.
With that said:
MEET RAY MERCER
Omaha Nebraska native, Ray Mercer is presently in the Broadway cast of The Lion King. He began his dance training at the University of New Orleans. He furthered his studies with Deeply Rooted Theater (Chicago, IL) and at The Alvin Ailey American Dance School and Broadway Dance Center (New York City). Ray was a company member of The Detroit City Dance Company, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater and was a guest artist with Boston Ballet and Joel Hall Dancers.
He has taught extensively for schools and community outreach programs including the Alvin Ailey Summer Camp Program, the Joffrey Ballet Educational Program, and the National High School Dance Exchange.
Ray won top honors for best presentation for his choreography representing the Lion King in the BC/EFA’s 17th Annual Gypsy of the Year Competition in 2005. His work also earned The Michigan Dance Council Award and Chicago’s Black Theater Alliance Award. Ray has served as resident choreographer for the All-City Dance Companies in Detroit and Chicago. His choreography has been commissioned by Dallas Black Dance Theater, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, and DRA:Dancers Responding to Aids/New York and has been featured in the New York Times, the Chicago Sun Times, and Movmnt Magazine.
Ray has worked with Aretha Franklin, Rod Stewart, Stephanie Mills, Kevin “Iega” Jeff, George Faison and Louis Johnson.
Ray is a fantastic choreographer and his work is frequently featured in the New York area. For a sample of his choreography, go out to The Ailey Citigroup Theater on September 12th or 13th!
Ray's critically acclaimed work "8 Minutes till Sunrise" will be featured in the Dance Gallery Festival.
Details:
Friday, September 12, 2008 at 7:30pm
End Time:
Saturday, September 13, 2008 at 9:30pm
Location:
The Ailey Citigroup Theater
Street:
405 West 55th street (at 9th ave)
City/Town:
New York, NY
tickets are $20 and can be purchased at www.smarttix.com
Featuring dancers:
Kristina Bethel
Kevin Petit
James Johnson
Iquail Shaheed
Alicia Pegues
Lanette Stampley
Music: Bojork and MeShelle Ndegeocello
***the work is about a community of people, or energies who must work together heal their relationships with each other and find degree of personal peace... Before the sunrises!
The festival will also feature works by:
Charles O. Anderson, Camille A. Brown, Yung-li Chen, Carol Dilley & Jill Eng, Isabel Gotzkowsky and Friends, Iquail Shaheed Johnson, Katie McCusker, Rick McCullough, Pascal Rekoert, Mojca Ussar and Astrid von Ussar
New work featuring the cast of The Lion King on Broadway will be performed as part of the BC/EFA fundraiser Monday and Tuesday December 8th and 9th!! Click here for tickets.
Ray is so fantastic to work with. Within a year, I both danced for him and choreographed on him. In both cases he was committed, energetic, invested and generous. He's the type of spirit you miss having around when he's gone. Cheers for his latest successes!
ReplyDeleteGood post.
ReplyDeletePITTSBURGH STILL HAS LOTS OF LOVE FOR THE TALENTED MR. MERCER
ReplyDelete