Contemporary | Master Class Artist

A native New Yorker from the Bronx, Maleek Washington is a performer, choreographer, and teaching artist. He began his dance training at Harlem School of the Arts, Broadway Dance Center, and LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. After graduating, he attended The Boston Conservatory on a full scholarship before beginning his professional career with CityDance Ensemble in Washington DC. While there, he worked with Paul Taylor, Kate Weare, and Alex Noeral. Honored to gain tutelage at The School of Jacob’s Pillow in 2009 and 2010, Washington worked with Milton Meyers, Helen Pickett, and others before attending SpringBoard Danse in Montreal, where he joined José Navas/ Compagnie Flak. Upon his return to New York City, Washington collaborated with McArthur Genius Award winner Kyle Abraham, and his company Abraham.In.Motion (A.I.M). He danced four seasons, prior to becoming the first African American male to perform in the critically acclaimed and immersive show PunchDrunk’s Sleep No More. He has also performed for musical sensations Sia, Phish, ASAP Rocky, and with Rihanna’s ANTI diaRy campaign. Washington’s performance and commercial choreographic talent has been recognized nationally at prestigious venues including The White House, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Jacob’s Pillow. He has performed internationally in Australia, Jordan, Mexico, and Sweden. In addition to his performance career, Washington is a sought after national and international teaching artist at the Joffrey Ballet School, LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, Broadway Dance Center, and Brent Street in Australia. In 2017, Washington’s multidisciplinary, experiential performance works investigated the people, practices, and spaces that have shaped Washington’s black identity. His art was proudly presented at the Boston Dance Festival, Pepatian and BAAD!, Periapsis Dance, Music Noesis, and at the legendary Movement Research at Judson Church in Spring 2018. Washington is a 2017-18 Dancing While Black Top 10 choreographic finalists. In 2019, Washington was granted an evening length show at Gibney Dance. Alongside his creative work, Washington has entered his second season with Camille A. Brown & Dancers in collaboration for her work Ink, which premiered at the Kennedy Center in December 2017, went international to NYU Abu Dhabi and at The Joyce Theater in 2019. He was part of the ensemble of NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar, starring John Legend. He performed in Camille A.Brown’s New Second Line at the 2018 Ted Talk Conference in Vancouver, B.C.. Recently, Washington has been assisting Camille A. Brown with the staging of Porgy and Bess at the Metropolitan Opera, Francesca Harper and her projects with USC Kaufman, BalletX, and New York University during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is a guest teaching artist at Bard College for 2020 through a collaboration with Gibney Dance.