Angela Harris

Angela Harris

Angela Harris is originally from Baltimore, MD and is a choreographer, dancer, and a graduate of The Baltimore School for the Arts. She received her dance training at Dance Theater of Harlem, School of the Hartford Ballet, and The Eglevsky Ballet. She attended Mercyhurst College and City College of New York, earning a B.A. in Journalism, while on full ballet scholarship at Steps on Broadway. Angela has danced professionally with The Georgia Ballet, Columbia City Ballet, and Urban Ballet Theater in NYC. Angela’s Atlanta theatre performance credits include Sophisticated Ladies and Degas’ Little Dancer (u/s) at the Alliance Theatre, as well as numerous productions with the Aurora Theater, including A Chorus Line, where she starred as Kristine DeLuca. She was a principal in Jasmine Guy’s production of Daughters of Alpha, in New Orleans, as well as a soloist dancer in the national tour of The Thorn, choreographed by Deanna McBrearty of New York City Ballet.

Angela’s choreography has been performed by The Georgia Ballet, Steps on Broadway Ensemble, Ballet Lubbock, Savannah Arts Academy, as well as other companies and schools across the country. She choreographed Bridges of Madison County (Aurora Theater), Little Shop of Horrors (Actor’s Express), Wonka and West Side Story (Fabrefaction Theater) and most recently, True Color’s Theater Company’s new production of The First Noel.

Angela is an instructor at DeKalb School for the Arts and Academy of Ballet. She was the ballet instructor at the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute in 2015 & 2016, and has been a master class instructor at colleges & universities across the country. Angela was awarded the 2012 Emerging Artist Award in Dance from The City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs and received a proclamation from the Atlanta City Council. Angela was selected as one of five Inaugural National Visiting Fellows at the School of American Ballet in NYC. Most recently, Angela received an SDCF Observership and worked with Susan Stroman on the new musical, Little Dancer, during its Development Lab for Broadway.

 

In addition to her artistic projects, Angela also is the Executive Artistic Director of Dance Canvas, Inc., a career development organization for emerging professional choreographers and youth. Angela conceived and founded Dance Canvas after witnessing the difficult path and lack of professional opportunities for young choreographers. Additionally, Dance Canvas was envisioned to create relatable professional dance experiences and new dance patrons in the Atlanta area. Since 2008, Dance Canvas has presented World Premiere choreography from 92 emerging professional choreographers, showcased over 500 professional dancers, introduced over 1000 children and teens to dance through the DC NEXT youth program curriculum, and performed for over 15,000 audience members.  Angela has developed youth dance/career development programs for the City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs (Culture Club and ArtsCool), recording artist, Usher’s New Look Foundation, and the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation.  She has forged partnerships with the Atlanta Ballet, Georgia Tech, Atlantic Station, Rialto Center for the Arts, National Black Arts Festival and Kennesaw State University.  Through Dance Canvas, Angela has been a catalyst, consultant, and resource for numerous new dance organizations and artists throughout metro Atlanta.  She received the 2011 Emerging Leader Award from Americans for the Arts and American Express, and was selected to be in the 2014 class of Arts Leaders of Metro Atlanta (ALMA).  Angela served on the national Emerging Leaders Council for Americans for the Arts from 2011 – 2014.