Hope Boykin

Hope Boykin was born and raised in Durham, North Carolina. She was a three-time recipient of the American Dance Festival’s Young Tuition Scholarship. While attending Howard University in Washington, DC., she felt a call to seriously continue her studies in dance. She moved to New York City where she studied at The Ailey School, worked as assistant to choreographers Milton Myers and the late Talley Beatty, was an original member of Complexions, danced many years with Philadanco, The Philadelphia Dance Company, and joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in the year 2000, where she continues to perform her duties as a dancer as well as her work as a choreographer, educator, speaker, creator, and author.

As an educator, Hope strives to bring young, aspiring students to a healthy understanding and efficient methods of technical and artistic movement. A choreographer and creator, Hope combines life’s greatest influences and personal experiences to construct, design, inform, and display her ideas, all while continuing to build her vocabulary of movement defining her voice and style.

photo: Jerry Metellus

Many have been a vehicle to help her create and share new works, collaborate with

composers, and hone her Movement-Language, as a dance-maker and choreographer. As a mover, Hope continues to find new meaning for her personal Movement-Language. Performing professionally for over two decades, she has traveled the world and has been taught and learned many lessons which she never hesitates to use as food and fuel for her performances. Hope has garnered many awards and honors, including the acclaimed “Bessie,” a New York dance and performance award.

A motivator, Hope has learned to share her truths. Overcoming many obstacles and trials, pressing forward in spite of circumstances, and being reminded she is a walking miracle, has made it impossible for her to keep quiet. She believes sharing her stories and lessons, on and off stage as well as author of “MOMENTS,” will help guide young artists who have a desire and are willing to learn from her mistakes and grow from her transparency.