Ulysses Dove

Ulysses Dove(January 17, 1947 inColumbia, South Carolina– June 11, 1996 inManhattan) was a choreographer.

Dove began his dance training atBoggs Academyin Georgia. Dove gave up his premedical studies atHoward Universityto transfer to the University of Wisconsin and study dance with Xenia Chilistwa of theKirov Ballet.He then transferred toBennington Collegewhere he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in dance in 1970. He then moved to New York City and was offered a scholarship toMerce CunninghamSchool as well as a position in the company. While in New York he performed forMary Anthony,Pearl Lang, andAnna Sokolow.Alvin Aileyasked Dove to join his company in 1973 after seeing Dove perform in Sokolow's Rooms.

Dove soon became Alvin Ailey's principal dancer and became renowned for his ability to command the stage with a powerful and dramatic clarity.His choreographic debut came in 1979 with the piece "I see the moon…. and the moon sees me." He then left Alvin Ailey the following year and became the assistant director at the Groupe de Recherche Choreographique de l'Opéra de Paris from 1980 to 1983. Dove then became a freelance choreographer, working for companies such as theDutch National Ballet,theBasel Ballet,American Ballet Theatre,New York City Ballet,Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) and theLondon Festival Ballet.

Dove's choreography is famous for its speed, force and eroticism.Some of his more famous works areNight Shade(1982),Bad Blood(1984),Vespers(1986) originally set on DCDC, andEpisodes(1987).Red Angels(1994) was created for and premiered at New York City Ballet.Twilight,which was performed on May 23, 1994, withRed Angels,was Dove's final creation.

Dove died on June 11, 1996, at the age of 49, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan of anAIDS-related illness.

External links

• Archive film of Ulysses Dove's Episodes (Living in the Present Moment)performed in 2000 at Jacob's Pillow
• Archive film of Ulysses Dove's Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven performed in 1997 at Jacob's Pillow