Jean Josue Appolon

Jean Josue Appolon (Haitian Dance & Modern Technique)

In addition to being the Co-founder and Artistic Director of Jean Appolon Expressions (JAE), Jean Appolon is a successful choreographer and teacher based in Boston and Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Appolon received his earliest training and performance opportunities in Port-au-Prince with the Lynn Williams Rousier Dance School, the Viviane Gauthier Dance Company and the Folkloric Ballet of Haiti. Appolon continued his dance education in the U.S. at the Harvard and Radcliffe Dance Program (1995-1996, Boston, MA), Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (1996-1998, New York, NY) and the Joffrey American Ballet School (1998-2003, New York, NY), where he graduated with a B.A. from a joint degree program offered by The New School. In addition to the companies and schools listed above, Appolon has also performed with Elma Lewis Productions (Black Nativity), Marlene Silva, North Star Ballet Company (Fairbanks, AL), Black Door Dance Company (Miami, FL), and the Atlantic City Ballet Company. Jean Appolon teaches regularly at Boston Ballet, The Gold School, Wellesley College, UMass Boston and The Dance Complex (Cambridge, MA), among other locations. Beginning in 2006, Appolon conceived and has since directed a free annual summer dance course in Port-au-Prince that serves young, aspiring Haitian dancers who do not have regular access to dance training. Appolon’s vision is to expand the summer course into a year-round dance program based in Port-au-Prince.

Appolon’s Boston-based Haitian Contemporary dance company has performed both at major venues such as Boston’s Paramount Theater and John Hancock Hall, as well as in city parks and community spaces in free performances accessible to the public. JAE also has performed at many schools and colleges, including Boston University, Dartmouth College, Dean College, Harvard University, Lesley College, Northeastern University and Wheaton College. JAE has been fortunate to share the stage with celebrities such as Danny Glover, Henry Louis Gates and Edwidge Danticat, and to collaborate with community partners such as Central Square Theater.

Since 2012, Jean Appolon has received funding support from Cambridge Arts Council, The Boston Foundation (ExpressingBoston), and many individual donors. Appolon received the 2013 Green Street Studios New Works Program Award. Also in 2013, Appolon was nominated for a Brother Thomas Fellowship (awarded by The Boston Foundation), and honored by The Art of Black Dance and Music. The Boston Globe ran a feature article on Appolon entitled “Dancing for Haiti” in June 2013. Appolon has been interviewed by Latitudes (broadcast nationally on NPR), WBUR, and World Vision Report. He has been the subject of two feature articles in The Boston Haitian Reporter, and has received significant media coverage in Port-au-Prince’s major radio, television and newspaper outlets, including three feature articles in Le Nouvelliste, Haiti’s most important newspaper. Jean Appolon has been endorsed by E. Denise Simmons, Mayor of the City of Cambridge, for his positive contributions to the Cambridge community. Jean Appolon is a member of The International Association of Blacks in Dance and The Boston Dance Alliance.
<a href=”http://jeanappolonexpressions.org” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>http://jeanappolonexpressions.org</a>