In 2010 Daryl L. Foster and Terry Slade premiered LIFT Men. Dance. Life. on the Hertz Stage at the Woodruff Arts Center. Ten Men came together to present work inspired by many impactful topics.
Since that initial performance LIFT has presented the work of nearly 80 choreographers danced by over a hundred dancers witnessed by hundreds of supportive audiences.
Following that tradition, LIFT will continue to give emerging Black Male choreographers a stage to express their emotions and tell their stories.
LIFT 2024
Dontae Iverson, Michael Brown, and Rocket
These three emerging choreographic voices will explore the idea of “PSYCHE” the hearts, minds, and souls of Black Men.
Dontae Iverson
Dontae Iverson was born in Tampa Bay, Florida on November 8th, 1990. He is a professional dancer and actor living, and working in Atlanta, Georgia, and is currently represented by Aligned Stars Agency.
Dontae exhibited an early inclination to music and, dance and would jump at any opportunity that led to a stage, especially when dance was involved. Dontae gained most of his experience through school and church arts events. Upon moving to Atlanta, Dontae furthered his training and began performing around the country with Afro-Latina Artist Amara Lenegra.
Dontae’s stage credits include: Dreamgirls and Black Nativity; with film and television features in Craig Brewer’s Coming 2 America, BET’s American Soul Season 2 as Lenny Williams, Tyler Perry’s A Jazzman’s Blues, and most recently on STARZ’s BMF Season 2 as Rayzin.
Michael Brown
Michael Brown, an Atlanta, GA native was first introduced to the performing arts at a young age.
He enjoyed many musical genres but had a particular affinity for Pop music and artists like Janet Jackson and the R&B grooves of Aaliyah, which fueled his love for dance. After relocating to Atlanta, Georgia from Phoenix, Arizona he started training at various studios which honed his craft as a Creator.
The enormous impact of dance in Michael's life served as a catalyst for expression and healing for himself and others around him. The most important benefit of his relationship with dance has been the incredible opportunity to use his gift of art-making to create visuals that speak to and connect with the African American Community.
Since moving to Atlanta, Michael has taken the opportunity to showcase his artistry throughout the region in local showcases, and surrounding studios. As a dancer, he has had the pleasure of working with Vivian Green, Natasha Mosley, and Sharaya J, and as a creative director, he has worked as the choreographer and dancer for LA LA RI of RuPaul’s Drag Race. He is working towards becoming a well-rounded entertainer in the commercial dance industry and a positive influencer for teens, the LGBTQ, and the African-American community.
Rocket
Rocket is a professional dance artist from New Bedford, MA, living in Atlanta. He believes that dance is about the steps, emotions, and stories conveyed through movement. He also believes that Incorporating his technical training in Modern, Jazz, Contemporary, African Dance, and Ballet, helps to bring diversity and range to his choreography. Having grown up immersed in hip-hop culture and music, he developed a unique style that blends the energy and groove of hip-hop with the fluidity and expressiveness of contemporary movement. He takes an experimental approach, exploring different mediums and techniques to enhance my choreography. Rocket finds that collaborating with other dancers and artists brings a fresh perspective and sparks new ideas.
Ultimately, Rocket intends to foster a supportive and inclusive environment where beginner and experienced dancers can grow and flourish In an environment where everyone is encouraged to explore creativity.