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 Paul
Gordon Emerson (Artistic Director) moved to Washington for what was supposed to
be a brief stopover while waiting for his first posting in the U.S.
Foreign Service. He ended up serving as Legislative Director to the
late Thomas M. Foglietta (D-PA) for seven years and liaison to the
House Armed Services Committee. Mr. Emerson has worked on more than
20 federal campaigns, including races for the White House, Senate,
and House of Representatives.
He is a published author on defense
and foreign policy, and is a former radio broadcaster, having served
as a news director, disk jockey, and sports announcer for several
radio stations in Ohio. Mr. Emerson has traveled nationally as a professional photographer, specializing in industrial photography. He has worked as a journeyman in construction and design and dabbles in bronze as a sculptor. He served as Executive Director for CityDance
Ensemble from 1996-2004 and has been Artistic Director since 2000. During his tenure with CityDance Ensemble, the company has been named
a “Top 25 To Watch” worldwide by Dance Magazine, won
the 2003 DC Mayors Arts Award for Outstanding Emerging Artist and
the 2005 DC Mayor’s Arts Award for Innovation in the Arts,
created one of the largest and most successful education outreach
programs in the region, launched CityDance FilmWORKS, and opened
the CityDance Centers at Strathmore and Mt. Vernon
Square. In 2006, Mr. Emerson received the Pola Nirenska Award for
Artistic Excellence in Dance. He is the co-host of the Award Winning "Performance Moves" television news magazine, which airs on Montgomery County Cable in Maryland. His God children Aidan and Nathan are his real pride and joy.
DANCERS: CityDance in Motion. A book of dance images by Paul Gordon Emerson
Mr. Emerson is an accomplished photographer, and the person behind the camera for all of CityDance's imagery. A book of those images, Dancers, featuring the members of CityDance Ensemble, is now available for purchase.. View and buy the book now!
 Christopher
K. Morgan (Rehearsal Director & Choreographer-in-Residence) is a choreographer, performer, and arts facilitator who divides his time between New York and Washington, DC. His work stems from a belief in the urgency of art in an increasingly isolating, commercial, and digital world. Said to be "charming and poignant" by The New York Times, he has been presented in Germany, Lithuania, Ireland, Poland, Hong Kong, and throughout the U.S. In addition to his work for CityDance Ensemble, Christopher creates work through New York based pick up dance company Muse, which he founded in 2005. Christopher is also the Director of the Dance Omi International Dance Collective, an annual 3-week collaborative residency for professional dancer/ choreographers. Teaching credits include Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Shawbrook (Ireland), Iwanson Schule (Munich), Stephens College, Western Kentucky University, and lectures for the Alliance of Artist Communities, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, New York City Ballet’s Education Department, and Dance Theater Workshop. He recently served on an NEA funding panel. Performing credits include David Gordon, Fabulous Beast Dance Theater (Ireland/UK), Malashock Dance & Co., Verb Ballets, Selfish Shellfish (Germany), as a soloist with the Washington National, Houston Grand, San Diego and New York City Operas, and continued work as a Guest Artist for the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange.
Watch Christopher's Inside Look interview
See Christopher at Classics in Context
This season, Christopher is also a panelist for the Shakespeare Theatre Company's Classics in Context series, joining some of DC's other leading players in the arts and political spectrum to respond to work created onstage at the Shakespeare Theatre Company.
Clifton B. Brockington (Music Director) holds
a B.M. in Jazz Studies from Howard University and has recorded
with numerous gospel artists, including Donnie McClurkin, Fred
Hammond, Andre Crouch, Richard Smallwood, and Israel, along with
Mo’ Horns Ensemble. In
addition to performing in 30+ cities in the United States, this
native Washingtonian has traveled to Japan, London, St. Croix,
and the Republic of Georgia playing jazz, R&B, and gospel music.
He also regularly performs salsa music with Joe Falero and the
DC Latin Jazz All-Star as well as La Leyenda. Originally known
as a jazz trumpeter and pianist, Mr. Brockington has evolved into
a celebrated composer, arranger, and jazz educator. He co-wrote
the music to the play Roll On!, which was performed by Tony Award
Winner Melba Moore at The Historic Lincoln Theater in September
2006. Mr. Brockington teaches jazz piano at the Ottley Music School
in Hyattsville, MD and recently completed his first CD as a featured
solo artist. |
Artistic Staff