Keith Thompson

Keith A. Thompson completed his MFA Research Fellowship in Dance from Bennington College in 2003. He performed with Trisha Brown Dance Company for ten years, the last three of which he also served as rehearsal director. Keith continues to represent TBDC in the sharing of Technique and Repertory both at the Trisha Brown Studio in New York City as well as festivals, schools, and workshops around the world. He danced with Bessie Award Winning Choreographer Bebe Miller, and currently with the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange. As a Choreographer and Teacher, Keith has been on the faculty of American Dance Festival since 2005. He has also served on faculty of Shenandoah University, George Mason University, Temple University, and Long Island University. As a university faculty member Keith’s choreography has consistently been selected for Gala Concerts at the American College Dance Festival. He continues to immerse himself in his choreographic work with his company danceTactics performance group, which was formed in 2005. He made his New York choreographic debut at Dance Theater Workshop in the summer of 2006. His collaborative work with choreographer Didier Theron of Montpelier, France, “Democratic Combine,” was created in part by support from Centre Choreographique National De Montpelier. The duet will be presented this summer at the Montpelier International Dance Festival. Keith has been commissioned to create works at Denison University, Muhlenberg College, Barnard College, James Madison University, Duke University, and Ursinus College. Keith’s work, “Silent Echo,” was made possible by a generous grant from Duke University and the North Carolina Council for the Arts. His work has also been featured at the Harkness Center for Dance at the 92nd St YMCA and in the DanceBOOM Festival in Philadelphia, PA in spring 2007, DUMBO Dance Festival, In the Company of Men series at Dance New Amsterdam, American Dance Guild Festival at DNA, TBDC Salon at Judson Church and Performance Mix Festival at Joyce Soho. Keith has received space grants from the Harkness Center for Dance at the 92nd St YMCA and The Field to support the continuation of his choreographic work in NYC. Keith continues new research for a new work that has received some support from the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation and the Bossak/Heilbron Charitable Foundation Inc. The company is an artist member with Dance Theater Workshop and currently on the boutique roster of Jodi Kaplan and Associates.

Class Description:

This class is geared towards movement principles that deal with the human body’s design. Warm-up exercises will draw on elements of basic alignment and structural soundness and direct the student toward flexibility, fluidity and power. We will explore and apply these methods to movement phrases involving multiple pathways, quick changing rhythmic patterns, and dynamic shifts of energy. Emphasis in the class will be put on technique exercises leading into a rigorous research that guides the student towards a new integration of mind and body