Marlies Yearby
Choreographer, Director
American
Introduction
Marlies Yearby is an artist, activist, choreographer, and director. She creates works in theatre, film, and multimedia spaces. Yearby is best known for her choreography of the original Broadway production of RENT (1994). Her mother was an interpretive dancer and jazz singer, and Yearby credits her love of dance to her mother. Yearby began her studies at San Jose State University, but left school to pursue her full-time career as a choreographer and dancer before graduation. She moved to New York City and established Movin’ Spirits Dance Theatre, working as the founder and director of the company. Yearby still choreographs and teaches dance to this day.
Key Dates & Events
- 1989 Yearby founds Movin’ Spirits Dance Theatre (MSDT).
- 1994 - Yearby choreographs the original Broadway production of Rent.
- 1995 - Yearby receives a New York Dance and Performance Award for her choreography in Stained.
- 2001 - Yearby receives a Helen Hayes Award nomination for her choreography in the Oedipus Plays at the Washington Shakespeare Theatre.
- 2003 - Yearby directed and choreographed Craig Harris’ “Brown Butterfly”, a multimedia celebration of Muhammad Ali.
- 2011 - Yearby founds project DanceHackIt, a virtual performance space for dancers around the globe.
Context & Analysis
Education & Influences
Yearby began her studies at San Jose State University as a biology major, but switched to a major in dance during the second year of her degree. Yearby left school to pursue her full time career as a choreographer and dancer before graduation. She moved to New York City and established Movin’ Spirits Dance Theatre, working as the founder and
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