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Tyrone Brooks

Tyrone Brooks, a former Principal Dancer with the Dance Theatre of Harlem, New York City (DTH). During his tenure, Mr. Brooks was featured in many ballets including Alvin Ailey’s “ The River”, Eugen Loring’s “Billy The Kid”, Jerome Robbins “Fancy Free”, Michael Smuins” A Song For Dead Warriors”, “Medea”, and John Butlers “Othello”.

 In 1984, he was nominated for the Dancers Choice Award in London, England, for his performance as Alan Strange in “Eguus” the ballet. Mr. Brooks has performed choreography by other artistic luminaries including George Balanchine, Agnes DeMille, Geoffrey Holder, Garth Fagan, Jerome Robbins, Alonzo King, John Butler, John McFall, Robert North, John Taras, Billy Wilson and DTH Founder and Artistic Director Arthur Mitchell.

His international performance experiences include Austria, Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Israel, Japan, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Venezuela, South Africa and Russia.

His television credits include performances in NBC’s presentation of Dance Theatre of Harlem’s “Creole Giselle”, the closing ceremonies of the 1984 Olympics: PBS celebrated series “Dance In America” Featuring Dance Theatre of Harlem: CBS 60 Minutes with Ed Bradley, PBS’s Live at the Kennedy Center “The Making of Firebird” and the 1993 Kennedy Center Honors. “Great Performance Dance In America” featuring “A Streetcar Named Desire”. Mr. Brooks choreographed for the televised 2004 Trumpet Wards “Black Explosion” in Atlanta, GA, Mr. Brooks was a member of the faculty at the Dance Theatre of Harlem School and the Associate Director of Dancing Through Barriers, DTH’s education and community outreach program. He has represented DTH as a teaching artist in the New York City Public School System and conducted professional development workshops for teachers in curriculum development. Mr. Brooks has conducted master classes and outreach programs in South Florida, Dance Theatre of Harlem/Kennedy Center Residency in Washington, DC and in Northern Virginia areas.

In 2004, Mr. Brooks came to Virginia School of the Arts as the Director of Community Dance. In 2005, Virginia School of the Arts Board of Director decided a change in leadership and appointed him as the new Executive Director. Mr. Brooks identified clear and attainable objectives for the school established and enforced high expectations for the institution. The school programs grew from two to seven in five years. VSA was once again seen as an important cultural and educational fabric of the area.

Mr. Brooks became active in the Lynchburg community by developing community partnerships and collaborations: Opera On The James, The Academy of Fine Arts, Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra and E.C.C Glass High School Theatre department. VSA received proclamations from the City of Lynchburg, “National Day of Dance”, “Best Dance Instruction”, Day of Diversity, “In Perfect Harmony”. He has served on the advisory panel for Virginia Commission for the Arts Tour and Performing Arts Directory, James River Diversity Council and a member of the Board of Directors of the James River Council for the Arts and Humanities. Mr. Brooks attended Lynchburg College and received a (C.A.B.A.), Certificate in Advance Business Administration. Tyrone Brooks is currently serving as a Visting Artist at the Florida State University School of Dance for the Spring 2011 semester.

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