Larry Keigwin is a native New Yorker, choreographer, and curator who has danced his way from the Metropolitan Opera to downtown clubs to Broadway and back. As a choreographer, Keigwin is celebrated for his electrifying and refreshing vision of dance that embodies a theatrical sensibility of wit, style and heart. He founded
KEIGWIN + COMPANY in 2003 and as Artistic Director, Keigwin has led the company as it performed at theaters and dance festivals throughout New York City and around the world. Over 15 years, KEIGWIN + COMPANY has presented Keigwin’s distinct brand of contemporary dance on a myriad of premier stages including,
The Kennedy Center,
The Joyce Theater,
Works & Process at the Guggenheim,
New York City Center, among others. Keigwin has created 23 works for KEIGWIN + COMPANY, in addition to the acclaimed large-scale community project,
Bolero, which has been commissioned in 15 communities across the country and is now being developed as a dance film,
Bolero Seniors, directed by Andy Kokoszka.
Commissions include Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance, Royal New Zealand Ballet, The Martha Graham Dance Company, New York Choreographic Institute, The Juilliard School, Vail International Dance Festival, and many others. His work in musical theater includes choreography for the 2011 production of the musical Tales of the City at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, and the off-Broadway production of Rent, for which he received the 2011 Joe A. Callaway Award from the Stage Directors & Choreographers Foundation. In 2013, Keigwin choreographed the Broadway musical If/Then, starring Idina Menzel. Keigwin has designed and choreographed special events including Fashion’s Night Out: The Show in New York, which was produced by Vogue magazine and featured more than 150 of the industry’s top models. Keigwin has also created Keigwin Kabaret, a fusion of modern dance, vaudeville, and burlesque presented by the Public Theater at Joe’s Pub and by Symphony Space.
As Covid-19 has shifted the world of dancemaking online, Keigwin has created acclaimed virtual works in 2020, utilizing the digital platform to celebrate artistry and amplify connection with high-profile commissions from The Juilliard School, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Works & Process at the Guggenheim, and Fire Island Dance Festival. Vogue heralded Bolero Juilliard, which brought together 100+ dancers, musicians, singers, actors, faculty, and alumni, as “One of the 9 Best Ballets to Come Out of Quarantine.”
A dedicated educator, Keigwin’s approach is rooted in fostering students’ individual creative voices. Keigwin developed K+C’s educational initiatives, most notably the company’s seasonal intensives at The Juilliard School, geared to prepare students for a professional career in contemporary dance, focusing on artistry, composition, and career building. Keigwin is a highly-sought after teacher and has worked with students at universities and educational institutions nationwide, including The Juilliard School, New York University, North Carolina University for the Arts, California Institute for the Arts, among many others. In 2017, Keigwin traveled to Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, and Tunisia as a part of DanceMotion USA and developed educational programs and activities that engaged a wide range of young dancers and students in cultural exchange.
As a dancer, Keigwin has danced at the Metropolitan Opera in Doug Varone’s Le Sacre Du Printemps and Julie Taymor’s The Magic Flute, in addition to his work with Mark Dendy (receiving a Bessie Award in 1998 for his performance in Dream Analysis), Jane Comfort, John Jasperse, Doug Elkins, Zvi Gotheiner, and David Rousseve. He appeared in the Broadway show Dance of the Vampires, the off-Broadway show The Wild Party and the Julie Taymor, Oscar nominated film Across the Universe.
He is the Director of Dance and a co-founder of the Green Box Arts Festival in Green Mountain Falls, CO, a multi-disciplinary festival designed to increase cultural opportunities in the region. Keigwin is also the Dance Editor of ArtDesk, a quarterly publication devoted to contemporary art, dance, performance, and thought.
