Desmond Richardson

Hailed by The New York Times in its 1992 "Critics Choice" as "one of the great modern dancers of his time," Desmond Richardson is a multi-talented artist who has mastered a wide range of dance forms including classical, modern and contemporary. Richardson's talent was recognized early on; not only was he chosen as a merit scholarship winner at both the AAADC (1983-1986) and the International Academic des Tanz in Koln Germany (1984-1985), but Richardson also received a 1986 Presidential Scholar Award for the Arts. In 1987, Richardson joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre as a principal dancer. Seven years later, he left the Company to perform with the Frankfurt Ballet for two years. Following Frankfurt, Richardson performed as a guest with the Swedish Opera Ballet, Teatro at La Scala and the San Francisco Ballet. In January 1997, Richardson became a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre where he was chosen to star in the title role of the company's world premier production of "Othello" at Lincoln Center's Metropolitan Opera House. In that role, The New York Times described Richardson as "one of the most majestic dancers ever to tread the Met stage." In 1998, Richardson joined the premier cast of Broadway's "Fosse" in which he was nominated for a Tony Award. The New York Times commented, "... there are instances in which an infectious rush in the joy of performing gets past the footlights. You feel it in the athletic pride generated by Desmond Richardson's gymnastic solo...". Throughout his career, Richardson has collaborated and worked in television, film and video in the United States and abroad. These experiences have allowed him to perform with such musical artists as Michael Jackson, the Artist, Aretha Franklin and Madonna. Richardson was a featured guest artist in the 71st Annual Academy Award live television presentation. Recent performances for Richardson included playing a principal role in Debbie Allen's dance/theatrical presentation, "Soul Possessed", which had its world premier at the Kennedy Center in November 1999. In 2001, Richardson will play a featured role in Patrick Swayze's new film, "Without A Word." Richardson is currently co-artistic director of his own company, Complexions, Inc.