BIOGRAPHY

 

Niles Ford is a dancer, performer, teacher and choreographer with an extensive background in ballet and modern dance. He received his MFA from New York University 's Tisch Dance program and his BFA in dance from the University of the Arts in 1985. He has been dancing professionally since 1977 and has had a varied and exciting career.

In 2003 Mr. Ford began creating and producing his own work.  His most recent show, "A Dream Deferred", was at PS 122 in November of 2003 and received critical acclaim from Jack Anderson of The New York Times.

He is the recipient of several grants including: The Jerome Foundation, NY State Council for the Arts, Harkness Foundation for Dance grant, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Award, Asian Cultural Council award, Puffin Foundation grant, a residency at Djerassi, and awards including a Bessie Award for outstanding performance in Merian Sotos “Historias.”

Over his 27 year dance career Niles Ford has performed with artists and companies including Boston Ballet, Bill T. Jones, Ron Brown, Danny Sloane and Co., the Rod Rogers Dance Co., Dance Theatre of Harlem, Philadanco and most recently with Marlyse Yearby on her “Brown Butterfly” jazz performance based on Mohammed Ali.

Mr. Ford is the founder of Urban Dance Collective, a dance company currently working on a new piece called “In Search of the Invisible People”, which explores the underground house scene in New York and features the music of Louie Vega and Kevin Hedge.