Are Choreographers Neglected?

Sonia Dawkins choreographs for dance companies, plays, operas and musicals. Sonia expands through innovation, the role of the choreographer to other art forms whereby creating a divine grace on stage, screen or other performance venues. The choreographer creates the movement for telling the story, featuring the voices of the artists, transitioning into the next scene or further developing the Characters. Dawkins sees the choreographer as essential to enhancing the meaning of the spoken or sung word through movement that may be bold, beautiful or subtle.

My work is inspired by curiosity for the cultural facets of dance. I have a profound interest in capturing the artistic, social, and political dimensions of the human experience; and my goal is to expand the parameters of dance as most people know it. My choreography is a creative expression that nurtures dynamic artistry and is dedicated to exploring the possibilities of movement. I try to help artists recognize and connect with their spiritual and aesthetic energies in the hopes of evoking an intense expression of form and feeling. I believe that this type of creative honesty (authenticity) better enables our audiences to feel and enjoy the experience along with us.

~ Sonia Dawkins, on ‘The Soul of my Choreography’

Sonia Dawkins believes… Musicals, plays and contemporary dance - combining all forms of dance in order to create the picture of what is required from me.

Ongoing Choreography Engagements

  • Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater School (Fordham BFA, Jr. Division, Independent/Certificate Program) [Since 2014]
  • Baltimore School of the Arts [Since 2023]
  • Oklahoma International Dance Festival* [Since 2020]
  • Choreographic Project: Opera, Jazz and Blues [Working title:TBD / Premier: TBD]

*Ms. Dawkins is on the faculty of the festival and will be attending the festival this year.

Previous Choreography Engagements

Sonia Dawkins has participated in Festivals as a choreographer and teacher.

  • Pieces of My Heart (unpublished poetry of August Wilson) | Director Choreographer · Des Moines Performing Arts Center First Artist in Resident [2022] (Still in production)
  • The Boy Who Kissed the Sky | Choreographer · Seattle Children’s Theater & Alliance Theater [2022/23]
  • BLUEPRINT | Film Produced, Director, Choreographer · Martha Vineyard [2022]
  • FLIGHT | Seattle Opera Film · Choreographer [2021]
  • My Heart Is the Drum | Choreographer · Village Theatre, Issaquah, WA [2017]
  • Pullman Porter Blues | Choreographer · Seattle Repertory, Arena Stage, Goodman Theatre [2012/15] Gypsy Lee Award nominated
  • Mwindo | Choreographer · Seattle Children’ Theater, Seattle, WA [2014]
  • BrotherSize | Choreographer · Seattle Repertory, Seattle, WA [2011] Gypsy Lee Award
  • Three Musketeers | Choreographer · Seattle Repertory, Seattle, WA [2009]
  • The Breach | Choreographer · Seattle Repertory, Seattle, WA [2009]
  • Children Theatre Productions · Broadway Bound Theater
    — 13 the Musical
    — Bye Bye Birdie
    — God Lives in Glass

Festivals

  • Koresh Dance Festival · Philadelphia, PA
  • Iliev Dance Festival · Bulgaria
  • Mexico Dance Festival · Guadalajara and Moreila
  • DANCE THIS! · Paramount Theater, Seattle, WA 6 Years!
  • Rhythmic Repertoire Workshop · National and International*

*Ms. Dawkins also presents her own festival called Rhythmic Repertoire Workshop. In 2024, SD|Prism Dance Theatre took artists to Madrid, Spain, to Nacho Duato Academy. This program will be happening again in 2025.

Previous Performance Art

Ms. Dawkins has also presented in galleries as Performance Art (director and choreographer)

  • Liquid Crystal | Producer, Director, Choreographer · Shilshore Gallery, Seattle, WA
  • SHADOWS | Director · SOHO Gallery, New York City