Kenneth J. Walker is Artistic Director of Kenneth Walker Dance Project (KWDP), a contemporary ballet company based in Southern California and a 2007 Lester Horton Dance Awards Nominee for Outstanding Performance by a Company for its program, Sheer Force of Will. Mr. Walker has taught and coached everyone from professional ballet dancers to young students and even Latin Ballroom dancers. He has served on the board of directors for the Dance Resource Center of Los Angeles as Secretary and as Chair of its Horton Viewing Committee, for the Lester Horton Dance Awards. Under his direction the company has received grants from the Arts Council from Long Beach, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and the Annenberg Foundation. The company has performed in New York, Virginia, South Carolina, Northern California, and at festivals across Los Angeles.
Kenneth has completed intensive choreographic workshops with Alonzo King of and William Forsythe. Kenneth has studied in workshops with Katherine Dunham, Donald Byrd, and Bella Lewitzky and has performed for Ballet Pacifica, Sacramento Ballet, Oakland Ballet, Minnesota Ballet, as well as a guest for many others
Kenneth’s professional career began when he left UCLA early to pursue a professional career in dance. He returned eventually to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree in World Arts and Cultures. He possesses both an MBA and MA in Arts Management from Claremont Graduate University.with Sacramento Ballet under the direction of Ron Cunningham. He was one of the founding choreographers on the “Beer and Ballet” program, which presented new choreography in a relaxed and intimate setting. He has performed in the works of Lisa de Ribere, George Balanchine, Lew Christensen, Willam Christensen, David Allan, Molly Lynch, Bill Evans, Ronn Guidi, Choo-San Goh, Jacques Heim, David Allan, Jon Magnus, Ann Marie DeAngelo, Jodie Gates, Susan Hadley, Anthony Tudor, Ron Cunningham, and Michel Fokine. He has performed on tour in Canada, Guatemala, El Salvador, and throughout the Midwestern United States. In Guatemala, Kenneth performed alongside the National Ballet in one of his works in celebration of their 50th anniversary. Kenneth has had the unique privilege of serving as a principal dancer for the Glory of Christmas’ 25-year anniversary.
Kenneth has created works for the Southern California Dance Theatre, Ballet Pacifica’s Dancer Choreography Project and summer programs, San Pedro City Ballet, Dance Peninsula, DanceCorps, Petaluma City Ballet, Chico Community Ballet, Peninsula Dance Theater, South Bay Ballet, and Sacramento Ballet. He won the Southern California Dance Theater’s first Young Choreographers Award given at its choreography competition. Kenneth was the youngest finalist at the Sarasota Ballet of Florida’s International Choreography Competition. Kenneth was unexpectedly thrust onstage to perform this ballet when a dancer incurred a last minute injury. His work has also been performed at the Regional Dance America/ Pacific Festival on Gala Night, American Dance Guild’s Annual Showcase, South Coast Dance Arts Alliance, Central Coast Summer Fest, Los Angeles Dance Invitational, Palm Desert Under the Stars Choreography Festival, “Dance! Santa Monica” Festival, Sacramento Area Dance Alliance, Spectrum Dance in L.A., and in the Ballet Pacifica Conservatory summer intensives. As a master teacher Kenneth has taught master classes at El Camino College, Moorpark College, LA County High School for the Arts, Regional Dance America/Pacific Festival, and others. Kenneth is currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Balle at CSU, Dominguez Hills. He is a graduate of Claremont Graduate University with advanced degrees in Arts Management and Business and an undergraduate of alum of UCLA’s World Arts and Cultures program
Company Website: kennethwalkerdanceproject.org
Contact: walkz@sbcglobal.net
Recent Comments