Garth Fagan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Garth Fagan
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| Born |
Gawain Garth Fagan
3 May 1940 |
| Occupation | Theatre director, dancer, choreographer |
| Years active | 1950s–present |
| Awards |
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Garth Fagan (born May 3, 1940) is a famous Jamaican modern dance choreographer. A choreographer is someone who creates dance routines. He is the person who started and leads the Garth Fagan Dance company. This dance company is based in Rochester, New York.
Contents
About Garth Fagan
Early Life and Dance Beginnings
Garth Fagan was born in Kingston, Jamaica. His father, S.W. Fagan, was a top education officer in Jamaica. His mother was Louise I. Walker.
He first became interested in dance through a gymnastics class. While attending Excelsior High School, he learned dance from Ivy Baxter. She taught at the Jamaica National Dance Company. He even performed for Cuban President Fidel Castro in 1959.
Fagan later went to Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He studied to become a psychologist. However, dance was his true passion.
His Dance Career
After college, Fagan worked with several dance groups in Detroit. In 1970, he moved to Rochester, New York. There, he started his own dance company. It was first called "Bottom of the Bucket BUT ... Dance Theatre." Later, it became known as Garth Fagan Dance.
Starting in 1970, he also became a Professor at the State University of New York in Brockport. During the 1970s, Fagan created dances for other famous companies. These included the Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Fagan has studied the work of many important dancers. Some of these include Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, and Alvin Ailey. He is also inspired by dances from the Caribbean and West Africa.
Fagan's Unique Dance Style
Garth Fagan's dances mix different styles. He combines modern dance, ballet, and Afro-Caribbean dance. He also uses moves from social dance.
Many of his dance pieces tell personal stories. They often explore themes that are important to him. For example, his 1977 work showed how a relationship can change over time.
Griot New York, created in 1991, is about people living in New York City. It shows the experiences of those who face challenges. In Moth Dreams, from 1992, Fagan celebrates his childhood. He also explores his relationship with his mother.
Personal Life
Garth Fagan lives in Rochester, New York. He has two children.
Stage Productions
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Awards and Recognition
Garth Fagan has received many important awards for his work. He is a Distinguished University Professor at the State University of New York at Brockport. He has earned several honorary doctorates from universities like the University of Rochester and Juilliard School.
In 1998, he received a Guggenheim Fellowship. This is a special award given to talented people in arts and sciences. He also received a Choreography Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.
In 2001, Jamaica honored him with the Order of Distinction. This is a high award from his home country. The Prime Minister of Jamaica, P. J. Patterson, presented it to him.
In 2012, he was named one of America's Irreplaceable Dance Treasures. This was by the Dance Heritage Coalition. In 2021, he received the Eastman Luminary Award. This award recognized his achievements in modern dance.
Major Awards
- 1998 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography – for The Lion King
- 1998 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Choreography – for The Lion King
- 1998 Tony Award for Best Choreography – for The Lion King
- 2000 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer – for The Lion King
- 2001 Samuel H. Scripps American Dance Festival Award – for his lifetime achievements in dance
- 2021 Eastman Luminary Award - for his lifetime achievements
