RONALD BURTON

 P.O. Box 1568, Columbia, MD 21044

Home:  (443) 367-0388 Cell: (410) 504-2095

Email: Ronald@RonaldBurtonEntertainment.com

                                                                                            

EDUCATION

1995                    University of California (UCLA) - Los Angeles, California

Bachelor of Arts, Dance/World Arts and Cultures.

 

2005-2007          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

Cultural Sustainability in the Black Dance Vernacular. Dance comparison and analysis in folklore, non-secular/secular, social and contemporary dance styles in the African Diaspora including but not limited to dances of Africa, the Caribbean, Brazil, Ireland and the Americas. 

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut 

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

2005-2007     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 

2008-2009     Lecture/In-Studio “The Black Dance Vernacular: Evolution of Black Dance in America”                                       

2007-2008     Lecture/In Studio “The African Continuum in South America: Brazil” Afro-Brazilian Dance I

2008-2009     Lecture/In Studio “The African Continuum in South America: Brazil” Afro-Brazilian Dance IA

UNIVERSITY SERVICE

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

 

ART IN EDUCATION

2001- 2005     Bronx Arts Ensemble, Bronx, New York

Dance Instructor

Developed and instructed sessions from two (2) – thirty (30) week in-class, after school, and/or weekend extension programs in dance education for grades K – 12. Course sessions develop 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.

2003-2009     Okra Dance Company, New York

Performance Artist/Educator in the Cultural Sustainability of the Black Dance Vernacular. Specialty in Black History Month performances for grades K-12 in the New York/Tri-state area.

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Rangoli Dance Foundation (South Indian) – Santa Monica College - Main Stage, Santa Monica, CA, Barnsdall Gallery Theater, Hollywood, CA, Scherr Theatre, Thousand Oaks, CA, J. Paul Getty Museum – Los Angeles John Anson Ford Amphitheatre – Hollywood, CA, 100 Arts Open House - Crossroads Academy,  Los Angeles, California Plaza Summer Series – Los Angeles

Rod Rodgers Dance Company (Modern) – Universal Temple of the Arts - NYC, Kennedy Center: Masters of African American Choreographers – Washington, DC, LaMama E.T.C.  NYC, Middle Collegiate Church – NYC, 4th Annual International Black Dance Company Conference - Dayton ,OH, CSU Summer Arts Residency Humboldt State University - CA, Artist in Residence, University of Mexico City - Mexico  

Micki D and Friends (Swing) - Passing the Torch- Museum of Natural History NYC, York College, NYC, Soul Motion – NAACP Gala – Stamford, CT, Tap Extravaganza- F.I.T – NYC

Charles Moore Dance Theater – (Contemporary/African) Long Island University - Kumble Theater for Performing Arts, NYC, Brooklyn Children’s Museum,  NYC, Brooklyn Public Library NYC, Ailey Citigroup Theater NYC, Symphony Space NYC, Prospect Park Golf House, NYC

Liberata Dance Theater (Curacaon) - DC1199 NYC, H.A.I- NYC  

Viver Brasil (Brazilian) – J. Paul Getty Museum - Los Angeles, Chico University Festival of the Arts – Chico CA, Artist in Residency – Escola de Dança-Salvador Bahia Brasil

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

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

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

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

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  

Ramayana – Rangoli Dance Foundation - Los Angeles Theater Center

The Dark Star from Harlem: A Tribute to Josephine Baker - LaMama Theater E.T.C- NYC

The Warrior Ant – Next Wave Festival Brooklyn Academy of Music - NYC  

Choreography

Howard County Performing Arts Center – Misako Ballet Company “Motherless Child”

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

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”

                                                                                            

Wesleyan University - Faculty Dance Concert – 2006- 2007

“Moderninha”

“S.W.O.P.”

“Spirit of the Orixas”

Community Outreach

Master class – Kinetics Dance Theater, Maryland

                       Dance Incorporated, Connecticut       

Cortejo Afro – Feliz Natal (Christmas Doll Drive) Salvador,Bahia Brazil

Malé de Ballet – Carnival Dancer, Salvador, Bahia Brazil