Top 10 Choreographers in New York, NY
Whether you’re planning a wedding reception first dance that will “wow” your family and friends or a performance for a special event, there are professional choreographers who can make it happen. In New York City, you’ll find some of the top choreographers in the country who have trained in everything from ballet to hip hop and Latin dance.
In this article, we’ll introduce 10 of the best who specialize in dance forms across the spectrum. Ready to start your search for the top choreographers in New York? Check out this list of some of the city's top talent to find the best match for your next project.
Luam
Luam is a talented dancer and choreographer who has worked with names such as Beyonce, Kanye West, and Fergie. Her choreography has also featured on the X Factor, American Idol, and America’s Got Talent, not to mention adverts for Nike and Reebok.
Through her work, Luam wants to promote spiritual resilience and resistance while advocating for those overcoming obstacles in life. She was named Most Stylish New Yorker by Time Out NY magazine and has been nominated for Best Choreography by Dance Track Magazine.
Judith Jamison
Judith Jamison first came to prominence in the 1960s when she joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and she went on to appear as a guest artist with ballet companies around the globe.
She starred in the hit Broadway musical “Sophisticated Ladies” before establishing her own company, The Jamison Project. In 1989, she returned to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater as its Artistic Director and remains one of the most celebrated choreographers in all of the United States today.
Akua Noni Parker
Akua Noni Parker is a highly talented New York City-based dancer who transitioned from classical ballet to modern dance. She performed for more than a decade with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and was particularly praised for her performance in Open Door.
Akua Noni Park was the first African-American dancer to perform as the Sugar Plum Fairy while working with the San Jose Ballet and she continues to inspire dancers in both the classical and modern worlds.
Justin Peck
Justin Peck is a Tony Award-winning dancer and choreographer who is currently the Resident Choreographer with the New York City Ballet. His choreography career began in 2009 at the New York Choreographic Institute and he went on to create an acclaimed ballet Everywhere We Go.
As a dancer, he has performed works by George Balanchine, Alexei Ratmansky, and Benjamin Millepied and has created over 50 dances of his own, several of which have been performed by the Paris Opera Ballet, the Hong Kong Ballet, and the National Ballet of Canada.
Twyla Tharp
Since graduating from Barnard College in 1963, Twyla Tharp has established a career as one of the United States’ top dancers and choreographers. Over the years, she's choreographed more than 160 works, including six Hollywood movies, four Broadway shows, and several full-length ballets.
Aside from winning a Tony Award, she has also received two Emmys and the Jerome Robbins Prize and is now a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Jaclyn Walsh
Jaclyn Walsh is a Tisch School of the Arts graduate who was named as one of the 25 to Watch in 2015 by Dance Magazine. Since 2011, she's danced with Keigwin + Company and performed around the globe, including at The Guggenheim Museum in Spain and in Africa as part of DanceMotion USA.
As a choreographer, Jaclyn's work has appeared at the American Dance Guild Festival and on Central Park’s SummerStage Main Stage and she has been recognized by DanceSpirit as one of the world's Hottest Young Choreographers.
Susan Stroman
While not a New York City native, Susan Stroman has spent many years dancing on Broadway and choreographing routines for the Martha Graham Dance Company and The New York City Ballet.
She's a five-time Tony Award-winning choreographer who was involved in the making of The Scottsboro Boys and The Producers and she co-created the musical Contact for the Lincoln Center Theater. Other career highlights for Susan include choreographing Madison Square Garden’s annual A Christmas Carol and the Metropolitan Opera’s The Merry Widow.
Jerry Mitchell
Jerry Mitchel is a two-time Tony Award-winning Broadway director and choreographer whose work has appeared in Manhattan and the West End of London. He was responsible for choreographing the dance scene performed by Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman, as well as work within projects such as Kinky Boots, Gypsy, and La Cage aux Folles.
In 2003, Jerry was named by Dance Magazine as one of the 25 to Watch. He's currently the director and photographer of the musical Half Time.
Jeremey Adam Rey
Jeremey Adam Rey is a highly talented choreographer of Haitian and Puerto Rican descent who began his career as a Michael Jackson impersonator at the age of 8. Over the years, he has studied everything from hip hop to ballroom dancing and has competed in competitions all over New York City.
Jeremey went on to train at the Rod Rodgers Dance Company and choreographed Samba De Gafiéra for a 2010 concert at Carnegie Hall. Aside from dancing, he is also an accomplished stuntman and actor.
Hunter Houde
Hunter Houde’s background in movement stems from martial arts training before he became interested in Latin dance while studying at the University of Vermont. After moving to New York City in 2010, he decided to pursue a career in dance and began teaching at the Arthur Murray Dance Studios.
Over time, Hunter began to hone in on Afro-Cuban dance traditions and trained with big names such as Gilset Mora, Yoanis Pelaez Tamayo, and Domingo Pau. Today, he is an active choreographer in New York City and the Director of Operations at Global Rhythms, all to great success.