RONALD BURTON

e-mail: ronald@ronaldburtonentertainment.com

 

EDUCATION

 

 1995                      University of California (UCLA) Los Angeles, California

                                Bachelor of Arts, Dance/World Arts and Cultures.

 

Bernard M. Baruch College New York, NY

 Business Management Major

 

Queensborough Community College New York, NY

Liberal Arts Program

 

2000 - Present      Escola De Danca Salvador Bahia Brazil

                                Intensive study in the Sylvestre Technique

 

1981-1985            Clark Center for the Performing Arts, New York, NY

                                Scholarship Student

 

1979-1981            Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, New York, NY

                                Scholarship Student

 

DISSERTATION

 

African Influences in the Black Dance Vernacular. Studies in Dance Ethnology from Dance and Culture of the African Diaspora. A hands on approach to the folkloric, religious and contemporary dance styles, complementing the history and culture which has influenced the dance. Including, but not limited to dances of Africa, the Caribbean, Brazil and the Americas. 

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut.
Instructor of Dance and African American Studies. Conduct lectures and in-studio components of dance theory, technique, performance and ethnology. Gained experience in developing course material for undergraduate studies, evaluating course performance, choosing texts, creating course readers. 

2005 - 2006 Lecture/In-Studio “The Evolution of Jazz Dance” Jazz Dance Levels I, II, III                                       2006 - 2007 Lecture/In-Studio “The Evolution of Jazz Dance” Jazz Dance Levels I, II, III                                     2007 - 2008 Lecture/In-Studio “The Evolution of Jazz Dance” Jazz Dance Levels I, II                                          2007 - 2008 Lecture/In-Studio “The African Continuum in South America: Brazil” Afro-Brazilian Dance Level I

Bronx Arts Ensemble, Bronx, New York.
Instructor of Dance. Developed and instructed two (2) – thirty (30) week in-class, after school, and/or weekend extension programs in dance education for grades K – 12. Course training develops motor skills, coordination/spatial dynamics, strength/flexibility training, body alignment, calisthenics, aerobic training, various dance technique and general dance discipline. Training also emphasizes rhythm and complex rhythm patterns by introducing international music appreciation and concepts with traditional, contemporary, ritualistic and ethnically infused music styles.

UNIVERSITY SERVICE

 

2007, 2008 Teaching Consultant, Tap Dance Tutorial – a pass/fail student tutorial on the history and technique of Tap Dance.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

Liberata Dance Theater (Caribbean) - DC1199 New York ’07; HAI New York ‘06

Mickey D and Friends (Swing) - Passing the Torch - Museum of  Natural History ’08; York College New York ’07; Soul Motion – NAACP Gala – Stamford CT ’05; Tap Extravaganza - F.I.T – NY ‘05

Charles Moore Dance Theater (Contemporary/African) - Ailey Citigroup Theater – New York ’07; Symphony Space – NY ’03; Prospect Park Golf House – NY ‘04

Viver Brasil (Brazilian)   J. Paul Getty Museum - Los Angeles ’04; Chico University Festival of the Arts – Chico CA ’04; Artist in Residency - Salvador Bahia Brasil ’00 - ‘04

Swing Brasil  (Brazilian) – Sacred Music Festival of the Americas/Honoring the Sea –Santa Monica CA’03; Dance Spectrum Los Angeles #9 (nominated for 2002 Lester Horton Award) ’02; Coachella Festival – Palm Springs ’00;’01/ Jubilee 2000 tour w/Perry Farrell House of Blues – Los Angeles ’00; Silver Lining Project Fundraiser –L.A.’00

 Rangoli Dance Foundation (South Indian) – Main Stage, Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA - '08; Levitt Pavilion MacArthur Park, Los Angeles, CA - '08; Barnsdall Gallery Theater, Hollywood, CA –’07; Scherr Theatre, Thousand Oaks ’07;  J. Paul Getty Museum – Los Angeles ‘03-’04; John Anson Ford Amphitheatre – Hollywood CA ‘04, 100 Arts Open House Crossroads Academy- LA ‘00; California Plaza Summer Series – LA ‘01

Rod Rodgers Dance Company (Modern) – Universal Temple of the Arts - NY ’07; Kennedy Center: Masters of African American Choreographers – Washington, DC ’05; LaMama E.T.C.- NY ’04; Middle Collegiate Church – NY ‘02-’05; 4th Annual International Black Dance Company Conference – Dayton, Ohio ‘91; CSU Summer Arts Residency Humboldt State University – Arcata, CA ’92; Artist in Residence University of Mexico City - Mexico ‘88

Blue Mercury Dance Company (Modern) – Lincoln Center Out of Doors - NY

Capoeiras of Bahia (Brazilian Martial Art) – Dance Explosion Avery Fischer Hall - NYC; Dance Africa Brooklyn Academy of Music- Brooklyn, NY

Loremil Machado Afro-Brazilian Dance Company (Brazilian) – Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival Residency – Beckett MA 86’

Djoniba Mouflett Dancers and Drummers (Senegalese) – World Financial Center noontime series NYC; Central Parks Summerstage series NYC.

Forces of Nature (Contemporary) - Caribbean Cultural Center Aaron Davis Hall - NYC.

 

 

Musical Theater

Patanjali – Rangoli Dance Foundation - Barnsdall Gallery Theater, Los Angeles, CA ‘07

Ramayana – Rangoli Dance Foundation - Los Angeles Theater Center, Los Angeles, CA ‘03

The Dark Star from Harlem: A Tribute to Josephine Baker - LaMama E.T.C., NY ‘91

The Warrior Ant – Next Wave Festival Brooklyn Academy of Music - NY ‘88    

Choreography

Wesleyan University 

Worlds of Dance: Student Dance Concert – Fall/Spring 2005-2008

“Funk Baby”

“Feedback”

“Eh Bahia”

“Cool Like Dat”

“Cirque Du Soleil”

“I am Music”

“Smilin’ Faces”

“Night in Tunisia”

“Happy Feelin” 

“Roots of Rap”

“ Manteca”

                                                                                           

Faculty Dance Concert – 2006 - 2007

“Moderninha”

“S.W.O.P.”

“Spirit of the Orixas”

 

Dance Spectrum Los Angeles #9 collaboration “Tour de Guiya” (nominated 2002 Lester Horton Award)

100 Arts Open House- “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”

“Useless” – Kym Mazelle, Capitol Records

“Is It Love” – Ultra Nate, Warner Brothers Records

“How Do You See Me Now” – Extorsion, Easystreet Records

Community Outreach

Lecture Demonstration series – Okra Dance Company 2008                                                                                  Bronx, NY; Pemberton, NJ; Baldwin, NY; Plainfield, NJ; Brentwood, NY; Hamilton, NJ; Passaic, NJ; Oakland, NJ; Englewood, NJ