Music
Press
Roger Jeffrey, The Eternal Quest for InspirationHis voice rings with the excitement of what he has done and the anticipation of what he has yet to do. Clearly, Roger C. Jeffrey, Artistic Director of Subtle Changes, will accomplish all of his goals. He describes himself as ambitious, yet patient. His mentor, Kevin Iega Jeff, instilled in him a deep love for his chosen profession. What often begins with Roger’s dancers in a New York City studio merely sets the framework for his finished project. Wherever he travels to set choreography, he loves getting to know his dancers, their movement, and their strengths. He uses everything from writing to movement to poetry to find the inspiration for a finished piece. He has learned to love the process, not just the result. One ballet, The Statement 7th Draft, took seven years to complete a testament to his patience. It was revised each time it was performed, demonstrating Roger’s emphasis on the process of choreography. By the time it reached the seventh draft, it was presented as a tribute to the immortal Gil Scott-Heron, culminating in three sold out performances in Brooklyn, New York. In 2005, he traveled to Bulgaria to set a small piece on Ballet Arabesque.Caught up in the enthusiasm, culture, and high standard of the dancers, it ended up being a fifty-minute ballet. This past year, he worked with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company in Denver, creating a ballet to take on tour. Roger is always searching for new sources of inspiration in both performance and choreography. Several years ago, he had the rare opportunity to work and dance with the legendary Mikhail Baryshnikov. He describes Baryshnikov as one of the most amazing and inspiring dancers in the entire world.Roger’s goals are realistic yet ambitious to dance, to continue learning, and to create one or two ballets a year. He is looking forward to setting pieces for Orlando Ballet and the Washington Ballet in the near future. I just love dance, he told movmnt. - Movmnt Magazine
Subtle Changes, Inc... a powerful forum for artistic expression - Attitude Magazine
Roger C. Jeffrey is one of the most sensitive and savviest of young producers in New York - NY Times
Jeffrey is a young genius at work - Carribean Life
Discography
Dancer
2004-present The Metropolitan Opera Ballet
2003-2008 ZviDance
2002-2004 Mikhail Baryshnikovs White Oak Dane Project
2000-2008 Lar Lubovitch Dance Company
1996-2001 Deeply Rooted Dance Theater/Jubilation!
1996-1999 Tharp! Dance company
Master Class Teacher/Residency 1997-2009
The Juilliard School, Goucher College, Marygrove College, City College of New York, Purchase College Conservatory of Dance, Philadelphia University of the Arts, University of Santa Barbara, Long Island University (C.W. Post), The Joffrey School (Texas), La Companyia (Spain), Tanz Project (Germany), Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, American Ballet Theatre/Make a Ballet Program and Peridance Center.
EDUCATION
1992-1996 The Juilliard School B.F.A.
1990-1992 Jubilation!Center of Enrichment
1988-1992 The High School of Performing Arts New York City
1986-2000 Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center
AWARDS
The NFAA Award
The Playbill Award
The Harkness Foundation Space Grant
A&F Gregg Burge Memorial Award
Photos
Bio
Roger C. Jeffrey was born in New York City where he began his training at Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center. A graduate of Performing Arts High School, he received his B.F.A. from The Juilliard School under the direction of Benjamin Harkarvy. Mr. Jeffrey has performed in the companies of Bernice Johnson, Kevin Iega Jeff, Twyla Tharp, Zvi Gotheiner, Martial Roumain, Lar Lubovitch and with Mikhail Baryshnikov's White Oak Dance Project. He has also worked with Gary Deloatch, Dudley Williams, Eleo Pomare, Benjamin Harkarvy, Otis Salid, Christopher Huggins, Debbie Allen, Rasta Thomas, Danny Tidwell, D'bi Young, Doug Varone, Sean Curran, Richard Move, Mark Dendy and Obediah Wright.
Inspired by his mentor Kevin Iega Jeff, he began to explore his full artistic potential as both an instructor and choreographer at the Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center, Edge School of the Arts, Devore Dance Center, Elisa King and Dancers, Philadanco!, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Rasta Thomas' Bad Boys of Dance, Ballet Arabesque,Camille Brown and dancers, CityDance Ensemble, Joyce Soho, Jacob's Pillow, The Juilliard School, Goucher College, Marygrove College, Purchase College Conservatory of Dance, Philadelphia University of the Arts, University of Santa Barbara, Long Island University (C.W. Post), The Joffrey School (Texas), New York Hip-Hop Festival, Theatre Passe Muraille (Canada), La Companiya (Spain), Benicassim Festival (Spain), Tanz Project (Germany), Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, American Ballet Theatre/Make a Ballet Program and Peridance Center. Mr. Jeffrey is currently a member of The Metropolitan Opera Ballet Company.
In 1997, Mr. Jeffrey founded Subtle Changes, Inc., a nonprofit artist collective committed to the presentation, development, and exposure of the arts. Since its first benefit concert at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts in 1997, the company has presented work for Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors, E-Moves/Aaron Davis Hall, Judson Church, P.S. 122, Dancenow Festival, Theatre of the Riverside Church, Ulster Ballet Festival, JoyceSoho, Central Park Summer Stage/Harlem, Back Yard Dance Project and Thang Dao's Contemporary Dance Festival. In February 2005, the company presented its first evening-length work in honor of Gil Scott-Heron in Brooklyn, New York. The Company is currently in pre-production for the a film inspired by Gil Scott-Heron. Subtle Changes, Inc will be performing on July 1, 2010 at Jacob's Pillow Inside/Out.
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