Alicia Graf Mack
Alicia Graf Mack | |
---|---|
Born | Alicia J. Graf 1978 or 1979 (age 45–46) San Jose, California, U.S. |
Alma mater | Columbia University (BA) Washington University in St. Louis (MA) |
Occupations |
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Organization | The Juilliard School |
Spouse | Kirby Mack |
Children | 2 |
Alicia Graf Mack (née Alicia J. Graf,[1] born 1978/1979)[2] is an American dancer and teacher. She danced with Dance Theatre of Harlem and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and taught at Washington University in St. Louis, Webster University, and University of Houston. As the youngest and first Black Dean and Director of the Dance Division at Juilliard School, a position she attained in 2018, she has been credited with "remaking Juilliard Dance."[3]
Early life
Graf Mack was born in San Jose, California, and grew up in Columbia, Maryland to a white father and black mother who was a professor at Howard University. Graf Mack stated she is distantly related to Russian painter and designer Léon Bakst, who had designed costumes and sets for Ballets Russes. She started dancing at age 3, and competitively at age 12. She studied at a public high school and trained at Ballet Royale Academy, and attended summer intensives at American Ballet Theatre and School of American Ballet.[1][4][5]
Career
Whilst a senior in high school, Graf Mack took class with Dance Theatre of Harlem, a predominantly African-American ballet company, and was offered an apprenticeship by the company's founder Arthur Mitchell. She relocated to New York to join the company at age 17 and finished high school with Professional Children's School.[4] She was eventually promoted to soloist.[1]
At age 19, Graf Mack was diagnosed with
In 2005, Graf Mack joined
In 2011, Graf Mack rejoined the Ailey company,[9] and danced the company premiere of Wayne McGregor's Chroma in 2013.[10] She retired from the company in 2014.[11] She rejoined Webster University, while teaching at Washington University as an adjunct. Three years later, she joined the faculty at University of Houston and was a visiting professor at Webster University.[7][2]
Graf Mack formed a dance collective, D(n)A Arts Collective, with her sister Daisha Graf, a commercial dancer. As a guest dancer, she had danced with
In 2018, it was announced that Graf Mack would take over as the Director of Dance Division at Juilliard School.[2] She is the first woman of color and youngest person to hold this position.[7] Later that year, following Mitchell's death, she performed a solo Mitchell choreographed on her at his memorial, at Mitchell's request.[15]
Personal life
Graf Mack currently lives in New Jersey with her husband, Kirby Mack, and their two children.[11][12]
References
- ^ a b c d Dunning, Jennifer (December 22, 2005). "From Star to Columbia to Star Again: A Dancer Who Was Discovered. Twice". New York Times.
- ^ a b c Barone, Joshua (April 10, 2018). "Juilliard's New Dance Director Comes From Ailey and Ballet". New York Times.
- ^ Seibert, Brian (June 2, 2023). "'It's About Connections': Alicia Graf Mack Remakes Juilliard Dance". The New York Times. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
- ^ a b Wood Rudulph, Heather (December 29, 2014). "Get That Life: How I Became a Professional Ballerina". Cosmopolitan.
- ^ a b Kwon, Beth (2006). "Pointe Taken". Columbia Magazine.
- ^ a b c Rizvic, Veneta (September 25, 2015). "Alicia Graf Mack discusses challenges in life as a dancer (Video)". St. Louis Business Journal.
- ^ a b c d Holmes, Kathryn (January 2, 2020). "A Day in the Life of Alicia Graf Mack, Head of Juilliard's Dance Division". Dance Teacher.
- ^ Rockwell, John (December 19, 2005). "Steam Heat, a Star Turn and Soul". New York Times.
- ^ King, Susan (March 8, 2013). "Dance Spotlight: Alicia Graf Mack on keeping Alvin Ailey legacy alive". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Burke, Siobhan (December 3, 2013). "Proving That Ailey Never Stands Still". New York Times.
- ^ a b "Portrait: Alicia Graf Mack". Juilliard School. August 28, 2018.
- ^ a b Barr, Diane (September 4, 2015). "Noted dancer, educator to share career story". St. Louis Business Journal.
- ^ Guiheen, Julia (February 15, 2018). "#TBT: Alicia Graf Mack with Dance Theatre of Harlem (2004)". Pointe Magazine.
- ^ Graf Mack, Alicia (May 21, 2014). "Beyond Role Models: Straight Talk From Ashley Murphy, Ebony Williams and Misty Copeland". Pointe Magazine.
- ^ Villarreal, Alexandra (December 10, 2018). "'Dance will never be the same' – celebrating the legacy of Arthur Mitchell". The Guardian.