Hope Boykin Explained

Hope Boykin
Birth Place:	Durham, North Carolina, United States
Education:	American Dance Festival
Occupation:	choreographer and dancer
Years Active:	1993–present
Current Group:	Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Website:	www.hopeboykindance.com

Hope Boykin is an American dancer and choreographer who is currently a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.^[1]

Early life and education

Boykin was born in Durham, North Carolina,^[2] where she started taking dance classes at the age of four.^[3] She went on to study with the American Dance Festival and, while a student at Howard University in Washington, D.C., performed with Lloyd Whitmore’s New World Dance Company.

Career

After leaving Howard University, Boykin commenced study at The Ailey School; while still a student there, she was invited to be a founding member of Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson's Complexions Contemporary Ballet.^[4] From there, she went on to perform with Philadanco under Joan Myers Brown.^[5] During this early period of her career, she also assisted choreographer Talley Beatty.

In 2000, Boykin was invited to join the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Called "a small force of nature on the stage"^[6] by The New York Times, in her career with Ailey she has performed an extensive repertoire in 71 countries across six continents.^[7] She has also taken part in offstage Ailey initiatives, including hosting their Ailey All Access video series.^[8] In 2020, she left the company. Her final performance with the company was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.^[9]

Boykin also works as an educator, and joined the faculty of the University of Southern California (USC)'s Glorya Kaufman School of Dance as the artist in residence for the 2019-2020 academic year.^[10] In 2020, she will serve as the artistic lead for the Kennedy Center Dance Lab (KCDL),^[11] a two-week dance and leadership program for high school students.

Selected choreography

Boykin's work as a choreographer includes:

• Acceptance In Surrender^[12] (2005) - commissioned by the Alvin Ailey American Dancer Theater and created in collaboration with Ailey Company members Abdur-Rahim Jackson and Matthew Rushing
• in.ter.pret^[13] (2006) - commissioned by the Dallas Black Dance Theatre
• Go in Grace^[14] (2008) - commissioned by the Alvin Ailey American Dancer Theater for the Company's 50th anniversary season, with music by gospel choir Sweet Honey in the Rock
• r-Evolution Dream^[15] (2016) - commissioned by the Alvin Ailey American Dancer Theater, with score by Ali Jackson and historic and original text narrated by Tony Award-winning actor Leslie Odom Jr.
• MomentsUponMoments^[16] (2018) - commissioned by Damian Woetzel for DEMO at the Kennedy Center and reinterpreted for the 2019 Vail Dance Festival
• Tribute to Joan Myers Brown^[17] (2019) - commissioned by the 2019 Bessie Awards as part of a tribute to Joan Myers Brown in recognition of her lifetime achievement award for work as a dance education pioneer
• On. Toward. Press.^[18] (2020) - commissioned by the Dallas Black Dance Theatre

Honors

• Bessie Award (1998) - Outstanding Performer (with Philadanco/Dance Women Living Legends)^[19]
• Urban Bush Women Choreographic Center Fellow (2019-20)^[20]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Hope Boykin. 2010-02-09. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. en. 2020-05-17.
2. Web site: Hope Boykin. 2012-11-14. Dance Spirit. en. 2020-05-17.
3. Web site: Alvin Ailey's Hope Boykin on How MLK Inspired Her New Work. Savané. Erickka Sy. 2016-12-01. EBONY. en-US. 2020-05-17.
4. Web site: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Hope Boykin. 2018-11-05. Dance Informa Magazine. 2020-05-17.
5. Web site: Philadanco alums a hit in Ailey company's 'Odetta'. The Philadelphia Tribune. 8 February 2015 . en. 2020-05-17.
6. News: Dunning. Jennifer. 2003-01-04. DANCE REVIEW; Ailey's Talent, in Grief And in Sly Celebration. en-US. The New York Times. 2020-05-17. 0362-4331.
7. Web site: Alvin Ailey dancer and choreographer Hope Boykin is ethereal and graceful. 2015-02-10. Rolling Out. en-US. 2020-05-17.
8. Web site: Alvin Ailey Launches Online Streaming Series With Screening of Revelations March 30. Clement. Olivia. 2020-03-30. Playbill. en. 2020-05-17.
9. News: Kourlas . Gia . When the Dancers Have to Miss the Last dance . New York Times . June 10, 2020.
10. Web site: Hope Boykin. USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. en-US. 2020-05-17.
11. Web site: Kennedy Center Dance Lab. The Kennedy Center.
12. Web site: Acceptance In Surrender. 2010-03-15. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. en. 2020-05-17.
13. Web site: Dallas Black Dance Theatre Opens 39th Season with Director's Choice Master Choreographer Hope Boykin Refreshes her Original DBDT Work. 2015-11-01. North Dallas Gazette. en-US. 2020-05-17.
14. Web site: Go In Grace. 2010-03-12. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. en. 2020-05-17.
15. Web site: r-Evolution, Dream.. 2016-07-20. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. en. 2020-05-17.
16. Web site: Hope Boykin and Hope Boykin Dance. New York Live Arts.
17. News: Libbey. Peter. 2019-10-15. At Bessies, Solidarity and Community: 'Love You, Aunt Joan'. en-US. The New York Times. 2020-05-17. 0362-4331.
18. Web site: Dallas Black Dance Theatre will present a world premiere from choreographer Hope Boykin. 2020-02-06. Dallas News. en. 2020-05-17.
19. Web site: Award Archive. The Bessies. en-US. 2020-05-20.
20. Web site: URBAN BUSH WOMEN ANNOUNCES SECOND COHORT OF CHOREOGRAPHIC FELLOWSHIP CANDIDATES. Urban Bush Women. en-US. 2020-05-20.