MEET THE ENSEMBLE

Colby Calhoun is a dance theatre artist and activist from Dallas, TX now based in Philadelphia, PA. They hold a BA in Dance Studies with related studies in Theatre Production from Texas Woman’s University where they focused on performance and choreography and, upon graduating, received the Darell Cleaveland Excellence in Choreography Award. Colby has been grateful to perform across the disciplines of music, theatre, and dance professionally all across the state of Texas.

 

They have performed with companies such as Contemporary Ballet Dallas (now Ballet Dallas), The Frisco Ballet, and Uptown Players; has taught for Cara Mia Theatre Co. and the Tony Award winning Dallas Theater Center; and has been selected multiple times as a Resident Choreographer by Eastfield College and the arts education nonprofit Junior Players. Colby also works as a passionate and creative administrator formerly serving as the Rehearsal Director for the Danielle Georgiou Dance Group, and the Artist Engagement Associate Producer for the Cannonball Festival produced by Almanac Dance Circus Theatre.

 

Colby creates their own work with collaborative artist collective: Very Good Dance Theatre. Very Good Dance Theatre was formed by Colby Calhoun in the summer of 2018 in a desire to work collaboratively with creators that were often sidelined in society. Very Good Dance Theatre had its mainstage debut at the Festival of Independent Theatres in Dallas, TX with “The 1st Annual Gay Show" (F.A.G.S.). This show was a hit success at the Festival of Independent Theatres being awarded Best Physical Theatre of 2019 by TheaterJones. Very Good Dance theatre has since expanded nationwide and creates work through festivals, residencies, and other opportunities for independent theatre.

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As a nonbinary biracial beauty Colby’s work experiments with understanding the complicated intersections of identity and playing with, and exploring, the social “norms” that impose Oppression instead of Expression. Colby continues to collaborate with often marginalized artists to give a platform to important stories and perspectives, and to continue to build relationships across diverse communities.