G.B.T.V. CultureShare ARCHIVES 2010: OBEDIAH WRIGHT BALANCE DANCE THEATRE "Black n da Box"

2010 - KUMBLE THEATRE, NEW YORK CITY


Affectionately known by many as "Baba", was born in Brooklyn, New York. Obediah Wright's strong desire to "move" was galvanized by the woman he credits with being one of his great teachers, his mother Ms. Margaret Wright. Not only did Ms. Wright provide opportunities to support his desire for artistic expression, she taught him the power of consistency, and the importance of striving for excellence -- characteristics that continue to resonate within Mr. Wright. Obediah Wright's foundation in dance was laid by "Masters" of the craft. At the early age of eight, Mr. Wright began his formal dance training at the Brooklyn Academy of Music under the tutelage of Charles Moore. It was not long before Mr. Wright began to demonstrate tremendous promise. At the age of eleven, he met his next great teacher Ms. Bernice Johnson. Impressed by Mr. Wright's abilities, Ms. Johnson awarded him a full scholarship to her dance studio in Queens, New York. As a young man, he continued to develop his talents at several of our nation's best institutions of dance: LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater of Harlem, School of American Ballet, Julliard, and was mentored by dance icons Lee Aca Thompson, Geoffrey Holder, Chuck Davis, Otis Sallid, and Michael Peters.
Mr. Wright's choreography evolves from his extensive training in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Afro-Cuban, Swing, and Musical Theatre, which has enabled him to engage various artistic genres. He has produced more than 30 ballets. His most acclaimed creation titled, "Higher Ground Still Rising", retraces the rich cultural heritage of the people of West Africa through time -- from village life through what is known as "The Middle Passage". This masterpiece has been archived at the historic Schomburg Center for Research and Black Culture in New York, and is named in the City of Newark New Jersey's Proclamation commemorating "Juneteenth Day" as a holiday. Over the years, Mr. Wright has received a multitude of awards and recognitions for his artistic works and community philanthropy.
The diversity of his talents acquired him roles in numerous on/off Broadway, television, and independent film productions such as the "Wiz", "Sarafina", "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat", "HAIR", "Fame", "Head of The Class", "Lifted", "Black Broadway and the Blues", "Storm Stories", "MAAFA" and "OYA"- Winner of the Audelco Award for best production of the year. His credits include Artistic Director, Choreographer, Dancer, Actor, and Singer. Mr. Wright has had the privilege of working with legendary artists such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Debbie Allen, M'bogeni Ngema, The Pointer Sisters, and popular artists Manhattan Transfer, Janet Jackson, Erykah Badu, and Ashanti. Moreover, he has choreographed and taught master classes throughout the United States and abroad in places such as Japan, Hong Kong, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, Martinique, and French West Indies.
Today, Mr. Wright is the Artistic Director and Choreographer of his Balance Dance Theatre Company, and Balance Dance Academy Arts and Education program in Brooklyn, New York. He also facilitates a male mentoring program called "The Aoubeni Project" that has served over one hundred males of color ages 6 to 18. To help aspiring choreographers, Mr. Wright is the co-founder and Artistic Director of "Choreoquest", an artistic outlet project sponsored by Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation. For more than two decades, Mr. Wright continues to demonstrate his dedication to facilitate positive growth and development of artists, children, families and community through art, artistic expression and cultural exchange. For more information, please visit his website at www.obediahwright.com ...email: obediahw@gmail.com

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Entertainment

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• G.B.T.V.
• CultureShare
• ARCHIVES
• 2010:
• OBEDIAH
• WRIGHT
• BALANCE
• DANCE
• THEATRE