George Faison
Choreographer, Director
American
Introduction
George Faison was born in Washington, D.C. in December 1945. He attended Dunbar High School and went on to matriculate at Howard University intending to study dentistry. However, he abandoned his course after two years and moved to New York City instead in 1966. He currently lives in Harlem, where he owns the Faison Firehouse Theatre.
Key Dates & Events
- 1966 - Faison moves to New York City.
- 1967 - Faison secures a place with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
- 1970 - Faison founds the George Faison Universal Dance Experience.
- 1972 - Faison makes his Broadway choreography debut with Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope.
- 1975 - Faison choreographs The Wiz!, becoming the first African American to win the Tony Award for Best Choreography.
- 1981 - Faison directs the Off- Broadway musical Apollo, Just Like Magic.
- 1991 - Faison choreographs the award-winning HBO special The Josephine Baker Story.
- 1996 - Faison founds the American Performing Arts Collaborative (A-PAC).
Context & Analysis
Education & Influences
George Faison began to dance while he was a student. He performed with the American Light Opera Company, before studying with Jones-Haywood Capitol Ballet and Carolyn Tate of Howard University. While at university, Faison also worked with the African-American poet, playwright, and theatre director, Owen Dodson. After watching a production of the
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Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher