Abdul Latif – Choreographer/Composer/Director

Mr. Latif, a Founding Rockefeller Brothers Fund Foundation Fellow and Co-Architect of the Inaugural Lincoln Center Institute Artist Residency 2012–2014; a Wesleyan University and New York University - Tisch School of the Arts graduate and a former company member of Donald Byrd’s Contemporary Ballet Company/The Group and Jennifer Muller’s Contemporary Modern Company/The Works. Latif was a Broadway cast member of the TONY Award winning productions: The Lion King and Hairspray – The Musical. His artistic rearing under acclaimed TONY Award winning directors Julie Taymor and Jack O’Brien and respective TONY Award winning choreographers Garth Fagan and Jerry Mitchell furthered his creative and developing conceptual designing, advancing while under the impactful guidance and tutelage of TONY Award winning Director-Choreographers: Joey McKneely and Bill T. Jones.   

Latif’s choreographic residencies began with Ballet Hispanico’s Institutito Coreografico and as Fortaleza, Brazil’s Special Guest Artist of the Jose Alencar Theater Festival. Recipient of the Actors Fund Transitions Grant; Actors Equity Grant for Emerging Contemporary Artists and John Cage Artist Grant, a 3–time recipient of Rockefeller Brothers Culpepper Artist Initiative Grant Award, 2015–2018 and 2015 choreography awards from: Council on The Arts–BRIO Award; National Capezio ACE Finalist Award; Joffrey Ballet–National Winning Works Commission and Choreography Award and 2017–2019 International Rauschenberg Foundation Fellowship and Artists for Social Justice Award Grant.

Latif was a 2016 Guest Artist and Choreographer at: Northwestern University, University of Richmond and Harvard University; a 2014–2017 choreographic tenure with The Atlantic Arts Foundation - Harlem Opera Theater and The Martina Arroyo Foundation – Prelude to Performance on opera productions of: Benjamin Britten’s - Parables; Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus; Giacomo Puccini’s La Boheme, Suor Angelica and Georges Bizet’s Carmen; the 2016 Fire Island Dance Festival commissioned choreographer of the Alvin Ailey Principals Duet–MATCH; the 2016–2019 Resident Choreographer of the co-produced HERE Arts production, According to the United States of America; a 2017 Broadway Dance Lab Choreographic Resident and the first African–American male choreographer to premiere a Joyce Theater Ballet Festival commissioned work, recomposing Vivaldi’s Concerto, Four Season for the New York City Ballet Principal Dancer Ashley Bouder Project in a work entitled; Alas~. A 2018 New York Reviewer wrote: “Alas— was amazingly original and thrilling. It received deserved cheers, applause and a standing ovation. It’s the kind of dance that is so rich it could easily allow for multiple viewings. I hope that I am able to see it again.”

A Fractured Atlas Fiscally Sponsored Artist and Project developing his company; AL-D2D/T an Artist Mgmt. Group is an associate team customizing tailored creative projects and artist client services. His street sleek, curbside chic choreographic style fuses where the street and studio meet, facilitating an evolving urban-contemporary vocabulary. Through his Lincoln Center Education study his self-designed creative-education platform_The NEXT Project test vocabulary and deconstructs technical theories in his D2D/T_DulieDancin’ Workshops across the country. A 2015 Chicago Reviewer wrote of powerhouse choreographer Abdul Latif’s breakout 2015 Joffrey Ballet Debut: “It is knock-out dancing, sure and theatrically committed by beautiful performers. Abdul Latif’s work is to be seen and an experience to have. His work stood out among the others and stays with you after it is over.”