David Roussève

Choreographer/writer/director/filmmaker David Roussève has written, directed, and choreographed 14 full evening works for David Roussève/REALITY including three commissions for the Next Wave Festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. “Halfway to Dawn”, Roussève’s most recent work for REALITY explores the life and music of jazz composer Billy Strayhorn. The evening-length work premiered in October 2018 at REDCAT in Los Angeles prior to national touring that includes REALITY’s return to the Next Wave Festival. Roussève’s commissions for other companies include Ballet Hispanico (in collaboration with salsa great Eddie Palmieri), Dancing Wheels (a reimagining of “Dumbo” set amongst high school bullying), Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theater, Atlanta Ballet (with a live performance by the 100-member Morehouse College Glee Club), Houston Ballet (danced to a live playing of “Appalachian Spring” and set in a Houston High School during 1970’s desegregation), Dance Alloy (in collaboration with Ysaye Barnwell of Sweet Honey in the Rock), and Ilkhom Theater Company of Tashkent, Uzbekistan where Roussève spent six weeks creating an evening-length work surrounding the homoerotic art of Russian painter Usto Mumin.