Jelani Taylor is a dancer, choreographer, and arts administrator from Virginia Beach, Virginia, currently working out of New York City. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of Era Dance Company and is the Artists of Color Council Coordinator for Movement Research. Jelani’s choreography has been presented nationally at Inside/Out at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, the International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference (IABD), National Dance Society Conference (NDS), and various festivals in Virginia and New York City. He has performed in work by Nathan Trice, Sinclair O’Gaga, and Mariah Lopez. Most recently, Jelani and Era Dance Company were artist/company in residence at Norfolk State University. He is currently a part of the Digging in Group, Artist Residency program at Green Space Studio. Jelani graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) with a B.F.A in Dance and Choreography in 2019. While at VCU Jelani was the recipient of the African American Studies Department’s “Black History in the Making” Award.
“Performance Mix is such a great resource, and I was really grateful to be supported in presenting two of my works this year! I think the real multiplicity of artists involved in all senses is a continued strength of the program.”
– evan ray suzuki
New Dance Alliance
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New York, NY 10013