Wayne State University welcomes Dwight Rhoden, "one of the most sought out
choreographers of the day," as Allesee Guest Artist-in-Residence for Fall 2013

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Detroit, Michigan (August 16, 2013) - Wayne State University's Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance announces appointment of distinguished dancer and choreographer Dwight Rhoden as the Fall 2013 Allesee Artist-in-Residence. Mr. Rhoden will be in residence at Wayne State University August 28 through September 4, 2013, sharing his expertise and experience with dancers from the department. The public is invited to view Mr. Rhoden working on Saturday, September 4.

Dwight Rhoden has established a remarkably wide-ranging career, earning distinction from The New York Times as "one of the most sought out choreographers of the day." A native of Dayton, Ohio, Rhoden has performed with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Les Ballet Jazz De Montreal, and as a principal dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He has appeared in numerous television specials, documentaries, and commercials throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe and has been a featured performer on numerous PBS "Great Performances" specials.

In 1994, Rhoden and legendary dancer Desmond Richardson founded Complexions Contemporary Ballet (CCB), widely considered as "America's Original Multicultural Dance Company." CCB and Rhodens' work has been presented to acclaim in over twenty countries on five continents. Rhoden is recipient of various honors and awards including the New York Foundation for the Arts Award, The Choo San Goh Award for Choreography, and The Ailey School's Apex Award in recognition of his extensive contributions to the field of dance. "Musicality, innovation, purpose, consistency, a brilliant use of stage space and the ability to tell a story -- all these qualities make him (Rhoden) one of today's elect choreographers" (The LA Times).

Rhoden will set his choreography on dancers from the Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance with an informal presentation on Wednesday, September 4, at 11:00 a.m. in the Maggie Allesee Dance Theatre, Old Main Building (Hancock Street Entrance), Wayne State University. This event is free-of-charge. Because seating is extremely limited arrival at 10:45 is strongly recommended.

Wayne State University, located in the heart of Detroit's cultural center, is a premier institution of higher education, offering more than 350 academic programs through 11 schools and colleges to more than 33,000 students. The Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance is a vital division of Wayne State's College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts and provides high-quality professional dance training, education, and performance opportunities.