Ken Roberson (choreographer)

Kenneth L. Roberson (born 1956 in Thomson, Georgia) is an American choreographer and dancer best known for his work on Avenue Q.

Ken Roberson
Born
Kenneth L. Roberson

1956 (age 66–67)
Thomson, Georgia
Occupation(s)Choreographer, dancer, professor, director
Known forAvenue Q

Early life and career

Roberson was born in Thomson, Georgia. He was an undergraduate at the Henry Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia when he saw a local dance troupe performing and resolved to become a dancer.[1] In 1979, he graduated with a degree in journalism and got a job at the Athens Banner-Herald. He later quit his job for a chance to audition at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.[1][2] He attended the school for two years before joining dance-pop group Fantasy. He studied tap dancing under Henry LeTang who told him about the upcoming Paris premiere of Black and Blue. He went on to make his Broadway debut in the musical's American version in 1989.[1] He danced in the 1990 revival of Oh, Kay! and in Jelly's Last Jam, a musical about the life of Jelly Roll Morton. In 1998 he did the musical staging for John Leguizamo's one-man play Freak. Ken also was nominated for an Emmy Award for best choreography for Mr. Lequizamo's sketch comedy series House of Buggin' for Fox TV. This led to a job choreographing the 2000 US tour of The Civil War. He choreographed the Off-Broadway and Broadway versions of Avenue Q.[3] In 2009 he choreographed Colman Domingo's one-man show A Boy and His Soul.[4] Kenneth is director of ETHEL written and performed by Terry Burrell.

He is Professor of Practice, Theatre, Drama and Contemporary Dance at Indiana University.

Work

Dancer

Choreographer

Film and television

Awards

References
  1. Jacobson, Erica. "How a Broadway Choreographer Danced His Way to Success". Washington Square News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  2. "Roberson Left Journalism For Broadway". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. March 8, 2002. p. T5.
  3. Brown, Jennifer (June 1, 2012). "Long Runs on Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  4. Hernandez, Ernio (September 24, 2009). "Domingo Reveals A Boy and His Soul; which earn his second Lucille Lortel nomination for best choreography. His first nomination came along with a Drama Desk nomination for the critically George C. Wolfe's Harlem Song. Solo Show Opens Off-Broadway". Playbill. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
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