George Faison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Faison
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| Born | December 21, 1945 |
| Alma mater | Howard University |
| Occupation | Choreographer, producer, dancer |
| Years active | 1967-present |
| Known for | Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, The Wiz, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue |
George W. Faison, born on December 21, 1945, is a famous American dancer, choreographer, teacher, and theater producer. He won a Tony Award in 1975 and was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1991 for his amazing choreography. George Faison was a main dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He also started his own dance group, the George Faison Universal Dance Experience. Today, he is a co-founder and artistic director of the Faison Firehouse Theater.
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Early Life and Dance Dreams
George Faison was born in Washington, D.C. on December 21, 1945. He went to Dunbar High School. As a student, he performed in the musical Show Boat. He also studied ballet with the Jones-Haywood Capitol Ballet.
In 1964, George went to Howard University. At first, he planned to study dentistry. But while at Howard, he worked with director Owen Dodson. He also saw a show by the Alvin Ailey Dance Company. This inspired him to become a dancer. He decided to move to New York City to follow his dream. In New York, he took dance classes at the School of American Ballet.
Starting a Dance Career
From 1967 to 1969, George Faison danced with the famous Ailey company. He left in 1970 to dance in the Broadway show Purlie. In 1971, he started his own dance group. It was called the George Faison Universal Dance Experience. He started it with only six hundred dollars.
His dance group included talented dancers like Renee Rose and Debbie Allen. George Faison choreographed many pieces for his group. One famous piece was "Suite Otis" from 1971. It was set to the music of Otis Redding. This dance combined ballet and modern dance styles.
Broadway and Beyond
George Faison first worked as a Broadway choreographer in 1972. He choreographed Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope. He then worked on other shows like Via Galactica and The Wiz. For The Wiz, he worked with Stephanie Mills.
Later, he choreographed for many famous singers. These included Ashford and Simpson, Earth, Wind and Fire, Patti LaBelle, and Dionne Warwick. He choreographed over 24 musicals. One was 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in 1967. This show had music by Leonard Bernstein.
He also choreographed Porgy and Bess for Radio City Music Hall in 1983. In 1981, he directed and choreographed The Apollo - Just Like Magic. This show brought back the golden age of the Apollo Theater. In 1991, he won an Emmy Award. This was for his choreography in the HBO special The Josephine Baker Story. In 1997, George Faison directed a musical called King. This show was performed at Bill Clinton’s inauguration.
The Faison Firehouse Theater
In 1997, George Faison started a group called the American Performing Arts Collaborative (APAC). This group uses the arts to inspire young people. Two years later, he bought an old firehouse. It was located in New York City. He spent the next ten years fixing it up.
The building was built in 1908. It used to be home to a fire company. Now, it is the Faison Firehouse Theater. It has a 350-seat theater and a café. It also has space for dance and rehearsals. The theater officially opened in 2007. The famous writer Maya Angelou was a guest speaker. Young people from APAC also performed.
