darrell grand moultrie

Darrell Grand Moultrie ChoreographerDarrell was born and raised in Harlem.  After beginning his training in musical theater and dance at PS144 and the Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts in East Harlem, he studied opera and dance at LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts.  Moultrie received his bachelor’s degree from the Juilliard School, and upon graduation, earned the prestigious Martha Hill prize for outstanding achievement and leadership.  He now pursues a career as both a choreographer and performer and his work is being performed throughout the country. Darrell is a recent recipient of a 2007/08 Princess Grace Choreography Fellowship AwardHis ballet PULSE, commissioned and premiered by Connecticut Ballet, warranted Jennifer Dunning of The New York Times to write Moultrie “is obviously someone to watch.”  Meg Freeman Whalen of The Charlotte Observer states simply, “BEYOND BREATH leaves you breathless,” of his work commissioned and premiered by North Carolina Dance Theatre--and of VITAL SENSATIONS, commissioned and premiered by Colorado Ballet, and also performed by Milwaukee Ballet, Cari Cunningham of  The Boulder Daily Camera, writes, “Moultrie’s conceptualization of both movement and space far surpasses his age.”  His work HEIGHTENED was enthusiastically received  by Cincinnati Ballet.   Other choreographic works include AGAINST THE GRAIN at the request of the late Benjamin Harkarvy for the Juilliard Dance Ensemble accompanied by the Juilliard Orchestra, and a collaboration with Cleo Parker Robinson entitled ONE NATION UNDER A GROOVE presented by Lincoln Center.  Currently CELESTIAL LANDSCAPE, his second work for Ailey II, is being performed across the country. His most recent new work, SECOND EXPOSURE, premiered by Colorado Ballet in March 2007 to rave reviews, was described the “most inventive” by Marc Shulgold of the Rocky Mountain News “arguably, the highlight” by Kyle MacMillan of The Denver Post. In addition, Darrell has been on faculty at many artistic institutions across the United States, including the Juilliard School, the Ailey School, Dance Theater of Harlem ,and Perry Mansfield, where his unique teaching style has caused him to be both respected and much sought after.  He has also choreographed national commercials for Mastercard, Mod’s hair products, Schick Quattro 4 razor, and has done work for the Dave Chappelle show. Darrell staged “Unspeakable”   work on Richard Pryor for the New York City Fringe Theater Festival directed by Rod Gailes. In January 2006, he was the youngest judge on the panel for the 2006 Miss America pageant  in Las Vegas.Mr. Moultrie created a new work(Tumultuous Tides) for the dancers of the cast of the Broadway musical The Color Purple for "Dance From the Heart," a benefit to support DRA, Dancers Respond to Aids. This work along with his work "First Exposure" will both be presented at The Holland Dance Festival by Ms. Francesca Harper and The Alvin Ailey B.F.A. Program in November 2007.This summer began with an evening of Darrell"s works performed at the New Works festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado at Perry Mansfield,and continued with a world premiere at the Fire Island Dance Festival 13 of "Trois La Femme". He also created " Steel Vision" for Mr. Rasta Thomas and his Bad Boys Of Dance for their Jacob"s Pillow Premiere!, and " Toe the Line "for The Juilliard Summer Dance project. It culminates with his second work for Cincinnati Ballet.As a performer, Mr. Moultrie was seen in West Side Story in Milan, Italy, at the world famous La Scala Opera House.  He has worked with Lar Lubovitch in his Men Stories, and was a part of the original workshops of the Public Theatre’s Radiant Baby directed by George C. Wolfe and Sweet Charity.  He was seen on Broadway in the smash hits Hairspray The Musical with Harvey Fierstein, and in Aida, where he performed the role of Mereb opposite Toni Braxton, and was a part of the original Atlanta mounting of The Color Purple.