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ABOUT ME

BRADLEY SHELVER

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR + CHOREOGRAPHER + TEACHER

Trained at the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg and at The Ailey School in New York. He has danced with the Ailey II, Elisa Monte Dance, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, The Francesca Harper Project, Limón Dance Company, Phoenix Dance Theater (UK), and in projects with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Co., Lar Lubovich Dance, The Universal Ballet, Radio City Music Hall,  and in productions with the Mark Morris Dance Group. He is in his 14th season as a principal dancer with The Metropolitan Opera Ballet. 

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BIOGRAPHY

Bradley Shelver (South Africa) trained at the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg and The Ailey School in New York. He has danced with the Ailey II, Elisa Monte Dance, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, The Francesca Harper Project, Limón Dance Company, Phoenix Dance Theater (UK), and in projects with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Co., Lar Lubovich Dance, The Universal Ballet, Radio City Music Hall,  and in productions with the Mark Morris Dance Group. He is in his 14th season as a principal dancer with The Metropolitan Opera Ballet. Mr. Shelver has choreographed works for; Graham 2, Big Muddy Dance Company, Richmond Ballet, Ailey II, Ballet Austin, Lustig Dance Theater, Compania Rio Danca, New Jersey Dance Theater Ensemble, Cape Dance Company, Cedar Lake 2, Sobers & Godley Dance, Nexus Dance Lab, as well as creating works for The Royal Danish and Royal Swedish Ballet Schools, Joffrey Ballet School, Central Ballet School (London) The Ailey School, Boston Conservatory, Long Island University and Purchase College.

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He was co-producer and curator for the annual REVERBdance Festival from 2010-2016. From 2013-2016, he was the Artistic Director of the STEPS Repertory Ensemble and the Production Director for Steps on Broadway. He is currently the Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet Concert Group, the Joffrey Texas Summer Program, and The Brooklyn Dance Festival Company. He is a company teacher for Mathew Bourne’s “Adventures in Motion Pictures”, The Lion King on Broadway, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Elisa Monte Dance. Mr. Shelver is on the faculty of schools and universities worldwide including ABT/JKO School, Adjunct Professor at Montclair State University, The Limòn Institute, Complexions Contemporary Ballet Academy, Royal Danish and Royal Swedish Ballet Schools, The Ailey School, La Guardia High School for the Performing Arts, Joffrey Ballet School, Bikuratim (Israel), Pan American Modern Dance School (Brazil), Hinton Battle Academy. (Tokyo), DAR Jazz Academy (Russia) among others. He is a certified ballet teacher with the ABT National Training Curriculum. He was a contributing writer for Dance Spirit Magazine and His book, “Performance Through the Dance Technique of Lester Horton” is available worldwide. 

PROFESSIONAL DANCE EXPERIENCE

  • Radio City Christmas Spectacular- Nashville Tour 2009

  • Mark Morris Dance Group - Guest Artist: Romeo and Juliet The Hard Nut 2008/2009/2010

  • Cattle Call - (United Kingdom Tour) 2008 - Role: Brad ( Dancer and Singer) -Dir. Javier De Frutos and Composed by Richard Thomas.

  • International Solo Touring: (2005,06,07) Including tours to Rome, Sardegna, Cosenza, Reggio Calabria, Copenhagen, Nyborg, Sienna, and Frankfurt. The repertory includes works by Limon, Ailey, Monte, Kylian, Shelver

  • Copenhagen Guest Artist Series- June 2005

  • Role of EROS in the 1924 ballet "Psyche" choreographed by the internationally renowned ballerina, Nini Thieland for a gala honoring her 90th Birthday

  • Premier of " Je Croix Entendre Encore" Solo choreographed and performed by Bradley Shelver

  • Bill T Jones/ Arnie Zane Dance Company -Guest Artist - Fall for dance festival - City Center- NYC

  • Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival: “Blackbird” Solo-Jiri Kylian,” Minus 16"- Ohad Naharin, “Les Noces”, “Le Parc”- Angelin Preljocaj. (July 2002)

  • Jaguar, Tribute to Style: Complexions Dance Co.- Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles CA (September 2002)

  • Pick of the Crop Dance- Role of Hansel in ”Hansel and Gretel” – (March 2002)

  • Joseph Albers Foundation Gala: Pompidou Center- Paris, (June 2002)

  • “The Making of a Perfect Mate” – Off-Broadway show- October/ November 2001, Lead Dancer – Choreographed by Bruce Heath.

  • Nelson Mandela Presidential Awards – South Africa (1995&1996)

  • Jessye Norman at Carnegie Hall (1999) – Choreographed by Milton Myers

  • 16th International Dance Festival (Havana, Cuba) Guests of Alicia Alonso (Nov. 1999)

COMPANIES

  • Artistic Director/ Resident Choreographer: Joffrey Ballet Concert Group, NYC (2021- Present

  • Artistic Director: Joffrey Ballet Texas Summer Program (2023)

  • Artistic Director: Brooklyn Dance Festival Company 2020- Present

  • Artistic Director: STEPS Repertory Ensemble 2013-2016

  • Metropolitan Opera Ballet, NYC- Principal Dancer. 2009-Present

  • Lustig Dance Theater- 2011- Guest Artist

  • Phoenix Dance Theater (Leeds, UK) 2007- 2008. Dir. Javier De Frutos

  • Limon Dance Company- (2005- 2007) Carla Maxwell - Director. Works by Jiri Kylian, Jose Limon, Lar Lubovich, Adam Hougland, Doris Humphrey, Susanne Linke, Daniel Nagarin, and Donald Mckayle.

  • The Francesca Harper Project - Guest artist since 2005, Works by Francesca Harper and William Forsythe.

  • Ballet Hispanico of New York - (2004), Tina Ramirez, Director. Works by: Peter Pucci, Ann Reinking, Ramon Oller, Graciella Danielle and Alexander Magno.

  • Complexions Dance Company- (2002-) Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson. (Guest Artist)

  • Elisa Monte Dance Company (2000-2003), Elisa Monte/ David Brown, Directors

  • Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble (1998-2000)Sylvia Waters, Director. Performed works by Lar Lubovich, Alvin Ailey, Shapiro & Smith, Donald Byrd, Homer Avilla & Edissa Weeks, Scott Rink, Robert Battle, Talley Beatty, Ronald K. Brown, and Francesca Harper. Included: teaching, and extensive touring throughout the US, Cuba, and the Caribbean.

  • Eglevsky Ballet Theater- Guest Artist 2001/02 Director: Ali Pourfarrokh

CHOREOGRAPHIC COMMISSIONS

  • Big Muddy Dance Company (2023)

  • Martha Graham 2- Under Their Breath (2023)

  • Montclair State University (2021) Spring Choreographer 

  • Joffrey Ballet Concert Group NYC - Resident Choreographer; The 12th Room (2023), Random People With Beautiful Parts (2023)

  • Dance Lab NYC (2020) Nexus Dance Lab Choreographer

  • Boston Conservatory (2019) (2022)

  • Ailey 2, 45th Anniversary Season- (2019)- "Where There Are Tongues"

  • Richmond Ballet- 2Rooms (2018)

  • Periapsis Live Music Commission New Work (June 2015)

  • Joffrey Ballet School, "CENT" (May 2015) Fanfarnetta (2016), Blue Calayx (2017)

  • Cape Dance Company (South Africa) - "Scenes"  (2012/2013) "She and Him" (2015/2016)

  • Ballet Austin- New American Talent/Dance Commission- The Last Just (2012)

  • Lustig Dance Theater- Je Vole (2012)

  • Reverb Dance/APAP Festival- Baruch Performing Arts Center. Mein Shatz (2012) She & Him (2013)

  • Compania Rio Dança- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Random People With Beautiful Parts (2012)

  • Godley/Sobers Dance- 3114BCE (2012)

  • Brooklyn Dance Festival "She and Him" (2012)

  • Svenske Balletskole - Gothenborg, Sweden - Scenes (2009), Amour Courtois(2010/2013) Kate's Gallery (2011) Mein Shatz (2012) She and Him (2014)

  • Bartholin Ballet Seminar - "6/8" - Premier: Tivoli Theater, Copenhagen (2009)

  • STEPS Repertory Ensemble: "Scenes", "3114 BCE", "She and Him"

  • NJDTE Gala> - Premier of " Healing song" solo. Costume, choreography, and dance by Bradley Shelver (May 2006)

  • The Ailey School - " In the dark, I'll stay in the squares," Global harmony Performances. (April 2006) 3114 BCE (2011) "New Work" (2013) Where There Are Tongues (2017), Babel (2018), Halakha (2020)

  • Cedar Lake 2 - Commissioned work for 2006/2007 season (Columbia, Ms) " Apollo's Illegitimate offspring"

  • Gala de Cosenza, Italy - Premier of "The man who cried" - solo choreographed and performed by Bradley Shelver (June 2005)

  • Oure Dance Company, Denmark- "Malleus Maleficarum" (2005), " I'm Still Learning"(2006), "2ROOMS" (2007), "Witness" (2008), "Midnight Train" (2009).

  • "Amour Courtois" (2012)

  • 2004 and 2005 Elan Awards- Fashion Institute of Technology NYC (October 2004) - "Vitruvian Man" and "Decision Theory"

  • Artists of the Millenium Gala- Premier of "Nina" Massachusetts - October 2004

  • Peridance Series- "MY..." revival, US Premier (2004) "A solo Four"- US premiere

  • Visions Choreographic Series- "Mon Ami", "Vitruvian Man", "3 Different Solos" - Alvin Ailey Studio's (2004)

  • New Jersey Dance Theater Ensemble Dual, (2004) Witness (2010)

  • “First Song”- Commissioned by HRH Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark- for his visit to New York in September 2002

  • “Bitter Sweet”- Commissioned by National Arts Council (South Africa) March 2001

  • Global Harmony Performance- Ailey Studios: “ Dual” – Recommissioned by Connecticut Ballet (1998)

  • Dance Umbrella (South Africa) 1996- Piece entitled “My”

  • Dance Umbrella (South Africa) 1997- Piece entitled “Quality of Mercy”

  • Numerous corporate and industrial contracts including Moet Chandon Champagne, Pepsi South Africa, and South African Airways.

AWARDS

  • Chosen by Judith Jamison for 1 year Fellowship at Alvin Ailey School (1998)

  • National Arts Contemporary Dance Award (South Africa) 1997

  • Finalist for Ballet Austin's, "New American Talent/Dance Competition

TRAINING + EDUCATION

  • Alvin Ailey School NY (1998-) Horton, Jazz, Ballet, West African, Graham Based Modern.

  • The National School of the Arts (South Africa) (1994-1998) Ballet, Graham Based Modern, Flamenco Dance, and Classical Greek Dance - Graduated with Diploma in Anatomy, Music, Ballet, and Modern Dance.

  • Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (London) – Advanced Diplomas in Jazz, Ballet and Tap Dancing as well as Latin American and Ballroom Dance (1987-1998)

  • Performing Arts Workshop (1983-1987)- Drama, Piano, Singing, Ballet Jazz, Tap

PROFESSIONAL TEACHING EXPERIENCE

  • Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater- Company Class Modern Teacher (Present)

  • The Lion King on Broadway - Company Teacher 2021

  • Company Ballet teacher for Elisa Monte Dance- Present

  • Dance Academy Russia, St Petersberg- Horton and Limon faculty 2020

  • Limon Institute- Ballet Faculty 2020- 

  • Montclair State University- Adjunct Ballet Faculty (2020- Present)

  • Pan American Modern Dance School (Brazil) 2020- Present

  • Boston Conservatory, guest teacher (2019)

  • Ballet Academy East- Adult Ballet Faculty (2019- Present)

  • ABT Summer Program- Modern Faculty 2017- Present (ABT © National Training Curriculum Certified)

  • Northern School Of Contemporary Dance (UK)- Online Modern Faculty (2020)

  • Royal Danish Ballet School, Odense- Guest Faculty since 2016

  • La Guardia High School for the Performing Arts- Ballet Faculty (2013-Present)

  • Joffrey Ballet School, NYC- Ballet Faculty for Jazz and Contemporary Program (2015-Present)

  • Alvin Ailey School- N.Y (Horton Based Modern/ Professional Ballet) – Actors studio as well as Professional Division and BFA (2000- present)

  • Artistry Dance Project- Pleasantville NY (Horton-based modern) 2013- present.

  • Regional Dance America Conference- Texas 2010, Horton Technique

  • Cape Performing Arts Center, South Africa- Guest Modern and Ballet faculty 2014- Present

  • Blich Performing Arts School- Tel Aviv Israel. Guest teacher (2011/2012)

  • Brazilian Congress of Modern Dance- Rio de Janeiro (2011- Present- Horton and Limon Faculty

  • Bartholin International Ballet Seminar- Royal Theater, Copenhagen (2008 and 2009, 2013)

  • Crossing Borders- Israel (2008)- Contemporary Workshops and Masterclasses.

  • Millennium 2000 School (London) Guest Faculty 2006

  • London Contemporary Dance, Guest Faculty (professional division) 2006

  • Matthew Bourne's New Adventures in Motion Pictures Company Teacher 2007- Present

  • IALS Academy (Rome) Guest Faculty

  • STEPS on Broadway  -Horton and Contemporary Jazz and Ballet, 2005- Present

  • Encore Dance Academy- New Jersey (Ballet, Hip Hop, Aerobics, and Yoga)

  • Company teacher for Elisa Monte Dance Co.- New York (2020)

  • New Jersey Dance Theater Ensemble faculty- Modern, Ballet, and Pilates/Yoga (2003- Present)

  • Oure Sports School (Denmark) Permanent faculty- Horton and Jazz Department

  • Ballet Etudes (Connecticut) Modern Faculty-  Nanette Vallas. 2017-2019

  • Sardegna, (Italy) Permanent Guest Teacher

  • Labart Academy (Naploi) Guest faculty

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