| Summary: | Choreographer and dancer George William Faison was born on December 21, 1945, in Washington, D.C. He trained with the American Light Opera Company and attended Howard University. After attending a performance by the Alvin Ailey Company, he moved to New York City to become a professional dancer, studying at the School of American Ballet and joining the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1967. In 1970, Faison created the George Faison Universal Dance Experience, becoming the group's dancer, artistic director and choreographer. In 1972, Faison made his choreographic Broadway debut, followed by a string of choreography successes, including The Wiz, for which he won a Tony Award for Best Choreography in 1975. Faison then worked as a choreographer for musicians like Dionne Warwick, Patti LaBelle and Ashford and Simpson. In 1996, he founded the American Performing Arts Collaborative and the following year, directed and choreographed King, a musical performed at President Clinton's inauguration.
|
|---|
