About the Company
Collage dance Collective is a contemporary ballet company dedicated to presenting choreography that explores the interface between modern, contemporary and classical dance. The company’s mission includes showcasing choreography which illuminates the experiences of cultures evolving from the African Diaspora, emphasizing a commitment to strong classical technique and broadening the reach of first-rate classically-based dance. Collage is committed to a multicultural aesthetic, and works to increase the number of Black youth exposed to classical ballet training. It is also the company’s goal to foster an environment where professional dancers are respected and nurtured, enabling them to achieve their full potential and thereby providing audiences with the most truthful and honest performances possible.
Kevin Thomas and Marcellus Harper co-founded Collage dance Collective in 2004. Mr. Harper had recently moved to New York to pursue opportunities in theater and arts production and Mr. Thomas was a principal dancer with Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH). Shortly after the two met, the DTH Company abruptly closed. Turning this poison into medicine, Marcellus and Kevin embarked upon developing Collage and building upon the legacy of companies like DTH.
Collage dance Collective was officially incorporated in October 2006 and received rave reviews for its national debut at the prestigious Lyric Opera House in Kansas City, Missouri. The performance was made possible, in part, by a generous grant from the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation. It was the largest and only of its kind the Foundation had ever awarded an out-of state dance company. The company has also performed in Manchester, Vermont, Flint, Michigan, New York City and Memphis, TN. In addition, the company has performed at Jacob’s Pillow in Beckett, Massachusetts during their 75th anniversary season.
The company relocated to Memphis, TN in 2007 and launched their studio in September 2009, offering conservatory-level ballet training to Memphis city youth and adults. Extending the reach of ballet training is at the core of the company’s mission. Collage is proactive in its efforts to recruit students of color, in an effort to increase the disheartening numbers of Black ballerinas and Black male ballet dancers on professional concert stages. Kevin and Marcellus believe Memphis is the perfect home to develop young dancers, harnessing the power in the city’s rich diversity and unparalleled commitment to the arts.
Artistic Director, Kevin Thomas, has amassed an impressive resume with over twenty-five years as a professional ballet dancer. He has held principal positions with Les Grands Canadiens, Cleveland/San Jose Ballet and Dance Theatre of Harlem. Mr. Thomas has also guested with numerous companies around the world including London’s Royal Ballet and has appeared on Broadway.
Managing Director, Marcellus Harper, has worked extensively in marketing and event production. He has produced events for the NFL, MLB, NHL and the NBA. As a Program Analyst for the Department of Homeland Security, he was one of the original seven members of the Transportation Security Administration, tasked with creating the organization’s infrastructure and re-vamping aviation security post September 11th. Mr. Harper was a Meyerhoff Scholar at UMBC, where he studied biology and theatre and is a two-time national NAACP ACT-SO medalist in oratory and biology.
Collage dance Collective is the vision of Mr. Thomas and Mr. Harper for a new era in contemporary ballet. The company prides itself on working with brilliant dancers equipped with acute classical technique, positive attitudes and stirring artistry. The company seeks out cutting edge choreography from emerging and established choreographers, forever seeking the perfect balance of innovative and classic, unexpected and familiar. It is the company’s ultimate goal to increase the exposure of classically based dance and broaden the classical aesthetic.
Collage dance Collective . . . a new movement begins!
