Alabama State University
Michael Medcalf, Assistant Professor
BFA/Dance Program Director
mmedcalf@alasu.edu
Medcalf’s early training in dance began in high school as a student at the Cleveland School of the Arts. As a scholarship student, he attended institutions such as the University of the Arts, Philadanco, the Chautauqua Institute and the Ailey School in New York City. In 2013, Medcalf graduated from The University of Iowa as an Iowa Arts Fellow and received a Master of Fine Arts degree in dance.
As a professional dancer, Medcalf has worked intimately with prominent choreographer such as Bill T. Jones, Talley Beatty, Katherine Dunham, Donald McKayle, Ronald K. Brown, Cleo Parker Robinson, Kim Robards, Dianne McIntyre, Kevin (Iega) Jeff, Gary Abbott, Eleo Pomare, Dwight Rhoden, Jennifer Muller, Shapiro and Smith, David Shimotakahara and David Rousseve amongst others. Highlighting his professional performing career is his work as a soloist and principal ensemble member of the Denver based Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble and his very own Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre and The Greene/Medcalf Movement Project.
In 1998, Michael Medcalf established Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre (CCDT) in Cleveland, Ohio. Over the next 9 years as the artistic director, he developed the company into a dynamic and highly sought after organization known for its innovative artistic programming, creative outreach approaches and thoughtful collaborations. He commissioned works by both new and established choreographers such as Dianne McIntyre, Shapiro and Smith, and David Rousseve amongst others, and created several ballets for the company himself. In addition, he has choreographed for opera, musical theater, and contemporary dance companies nationally.
His experience, professionalism, and leadership helped establish CCDT as one of the most relevant and respected arts organizations in Northeast Ohio.
As a choreographer, Medcalf’s contemporary work has received numerous commissions, awards and fellowships from The Ohio Arts Council and various dance companies, colleges and universities throughout North America. His award-winning choreography has also been highlighted in showcases presented by St. Marks Dancespace Project in New York City, in Cleveland Public Dance Theatre’s Danceworks Series as well in as Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton at the annual statewide Ohio Dance Festival. Medcalf’s choreography for opera and musical theater includes A Little Night Music, Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party, Guys and Dolls, Crowns, Carman Jones, La Traviata, The Hot Mikado, The Wiz, Westside Story, Fame!, South Pacific, Hansel and Gretel, Wole Soyinka’s The Bacchae of Euripides, Dreamgirls, A Decade of Dreams, Caroline or Change and Little Shop of Horrors.
He has served on the boards of Ohio Dance and Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio and on panels for Dance Cleveland, The Ohio Arts Council, The Ohio Art Presenters Network and Alabama State University. Amongst his many awards, includes Young Audiences of Greater Cleveland’s Sunshine Award, and in 2007, Northern Ohio Live Magazine honored Medcalf for his contributions to the dance community by awarding him with its Award of Achievement. Currently, Medcalf serves on the board of the Alabama Dance Council and Cleveland Dance Movement, the organization that will host the 2015 International Blacks in Dance Conference in Cleveland, Ohio.
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