Recipient Information
Location
Greenville, South Carolina
Year of Award
2022
Grant or Fellowship
Leaders of Color Fellowship
Grant Amount
$0
Vaughn Newman
Founder, Vaughn Newman Dance
Born in Philadelphia, PA, I began dancing at William Penn Arts Charter and continued training at Freedom Theater, PHILADANCO, & New World School of the Arts, Miami, FL. While at New World, I began performing with MOMENTUM DANCE COMPANY and Brazz Dance Theater until I moved to Upstate SC in 2009. After choreographing for local theaters, dance studios, and the Peace Center for the Performing Arts, The Studio–Home of Vaughn Newman Dance(VND) opened its’ doors in 2018 offering dance instruction to Upstate communities, students, hobbyists, and pre-professional dancers. The Studio is the home of Greenville’s first Afro-American and professional contemporary dance company. I founded ZAKI West African Drum & Dance Ensemble and ADAM Arts as community outreach programs that cross socio-economical barriers by making the arts accessible to the community, especially misaligned and underserved youths. Together, these outreach programs and Vaughn Newman Dance narrow the cultural divide through curated interactive performing arts experiences, Traditional West African drum & dance classes, and workshops.