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DANCE ST. LOUI S | COL L AG E DA N C E CO L L E C TI V E
INTRODUCING
KEVIN THOMAS A RT I ST I C DI R E C TO R O F CO L L AG E DANC E CO L L E C T I V E
Kevin Thomas was born in Trinidad and Tobago and grew up in Montreal, Canada. He received his degree in dance from the CEGEP de Vieux Montreal. Mr. Thomas began his career as a professional dancer in Montreal with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, one of Canada’s leading ballet companies. At the age of 19, he was the only Black dancer with the company. He later became a soloist with the company then moved on to Cleveland San Jose ballet as a principal dancer and then finally to the Dance Theatre of Harlem in
Memphis the following year. They established
New York as a principal dancer, where he performed
the Collage Ballet Conservatory in 2009. The
internationally for 10 years.
organization has quickly grown to boast an
Mr. Thomas’ credits include leading roles in The Prodigal Son, Dialogues, The Four Temperaments, Othello, Adrian (Angel on Earth), A Song for Dead Warriors, Troy Games, Equuis and Dougla. He
international touring professional company and nationally recognized conservatory, training more students of color in a classical art form than any other nonprofit in Memphis.
has performed leading roles in numerous ballets
Mr. Thomas has served as Ballet Master for New
including The Nutcracker, Tarantella, Agon, Who
Ballet Ensemble & School and has choreographed
Cares, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Don Quixote,
for Opera Memphis, Hattiloo Repertory Theatre, New
Consort Lessons, and Aureole.
Ballet Ensemble, Orpheum Theatre, Flint Institute of
Mr. Thomas has made guest appearances with the Royal Ballet in London, Complexions Contemporary Ballet in New York and Fleming Flindt and Peter Schaufuss in Denmark. He has also appeared on Broadway in The Phantom of the Opera and on television in Law and Order.
Music, University of Memphis, University of Utah and Collage Dance Collective. He is a National Visiting Fellow at the School of American Ballet in New York City and has taught at schools and programs around the country including the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Flint Institute of Music, University of Utah, School of American Ballet, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater,
In 2006, Mr. Thomas and Marcellus Harper founded
the International Association of Blacks in Dance,
Collage Dance Collective to increase diversity
Tennessee Association of Dance and the University
in classical ballet and relocated the company to
of Memphis.
