David Parsons
DAVID PARSONS (Artistic Director/Co-Founder) has enjoyed a remarkable career as a director, choreographer, performer, master teacher, and producer. Raised in Kansas City, Parsons made it to New York on a scholarship to the Alvin Ailey School at age 17. In the early years of his career, he was a leading dancer at The Paul Taylor Dance Company and also danced with New York City Ballet, MOMIX, Berlin Opera and The White Oak Project. Mr. Parsons has created more than 75 works for Parsons Dance. Commissions include American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, to name a few. His works have been performed by Paris Opera Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Joffrey Ballet, and Ballet de Rio Janeiro, among many others. Parsons has worked on such diverse projects as Julie Taymor’s film Fool’s Fire, AIDA at Arena di Verona; Maria de Buenos Aires for Gotham Chamber Opera. He choreographed and directed the dance elements for Times Square 2000, the 24-hour festivities in Times Square celebrating the Millennium; and Remember Me, a collaboration with East Village Opera Company. Parsons was the first recipient of the Howard Gilman Fellowship to complete his Master’s Degree at Jacksonville University and holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Missouri Kansas City.