Kieron Dwayne Sargeant
Bio
Kieron Dwayne Sargeant is a multifaceted artist, choreographer, performer, drummer, dance researcher, and educator from Trinidad and Tobago. His extensive career is rooted in the exploration and promotion of African-Caribbean diasporic traditions. He currently holds the position of Assistant Professor of Dance at Skidmore College. Sargeant earned his MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Florida State University, an MA in Community Dance from Ohio University, and a BA in Dance Education from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.
Sargeant's choreography has received international recognition, with works commissioned and showcased widely across the United States, Canada, Grenada, Barbados, Togo, Nigeria, and various European locations through MSC Cruise Lines. Among his notable choreographic achievements is “He Shall Walk”, commissioned by Northwestern University's Black Arts Consortium and the Mellon Foundation Sawyer Seminar. He has also created commissioned dance works for Danse Contemporaine Togo, the University of Iowa Theatre Department, Minnesota State University, and the Bucknell University Department of Dance and Theatre.
His extensive performance and collaborative history spans partnerships with renowned institutions and organizations, including the International Association of Blacks in Dance, NYU Steinhardt, the Collegium for African Diaspora Dance, the National Dance Education Organization, Woezo Africa Music and Dance Theatre Inc., Ailey Arts in Education and Community Programs, Dance New Jersey, École des Sables in Senegal, and the Nigerian Dance Guild. He has also worked alongside distinguished dance practitioners and scholars such as Thomas Talawa Prestø, Caroline Clay, Makeda Thomas, and Caroline Copeland.
Sargeant is a dedicated researcher and author whose academic work explores the connections between dance, identity, ritual, and resistance within the African diaspora. His body of work includes recent publications such as "Bending but Not Breaking: Awakening to Limbo" in Conversations Across the Field of Dance Studies 44; "Drum, Sweat, and Longevity: Caribbean Dance as a Practice of Rejuvenation" in Dance Education in Practice; and an upcoming chapter titled "Flick the Skirt: The Amplification of the African Body," which will appear in The African Diaspora and Civic Engagement. His research has been featured at various national conferences, including the Collegium for African Diaspora Dance and the International Association of Blacks in Dance, as well as at international gatherings such as the African Diaspora Dance Traditions conference in Brazil and the Choreographic Encounters Conference in Togo.
In recognition of his scholarly and creative achievements, Sargeant has received several prestigious awards and fellowships. These include the 2026 New York Choreographers Initiative Award, the 2024 Jacob's Pillow Curriculum in Motion Fellowship, the 2022 Grant Wood Fellowship in Interdisciplinary Performance from the University of Iowa, the 2021 International Artist Award from the Ayjano Folklore Heritage and Performing Arts Institution in Nigeria, and the 2020 UNESCO Dance Fellowship. He also received the 2023 City of San Fernando, Trinidad Citation Award from the Mayor for his significant contributions to the arts and culture sector.
Sargeant is deeply invested in promoting artistic excellence and cultural preservation. In 2020, he established the Kieron Dwayne Sargeant Dance and Dance Education Foundation in Trinidad and Tobago. This initiative aims to nurture artistic communities and provide educational opportunities that empower dancers and educators throughout the African-Caribbean diaspora.
Kieron Dwayne Sargeant continues to be a vital presence in contemporary dance. Through his unwavering commitment to preserving and advancing African-Caribbean dance traditions on a global scale, he effectively bridges the worlds of academia, performance, and community engagement.
ARTIST STATEMENT
As an interdisciplinary artist, I use the human body in motion as my canvas, infusing it with the vibrant hues of Caribbean and Africanist sensibilities. My choreography is deeply rooted in the profound dance traditions of Trinidad & Tobago, and it expands to embrace the broader tapestry of the African diaspora. This creates a language that is both ancient and contemporary.
This deep grounding in African-Caribbean dance serves not as an end, but as a dynamic beginning. From this foundation, I seamlessly integrate elements of American Contemporary and Modern Dance. The resulting blend uniquely honors tradition while breaking new ground, evoking histories while engaging with the present. My work aims to showcase the seamless integration of diverse dance lineages and celebrate the boundless possibilities inherent in movement and expression.
Through the rhythmic dance of the African Caribbean, I perceive, embody, and express a living chronicle that captures the visceral pulse of the African Diaspora. Drawing deeply from the Griot tradition, my dance transcends mere movement; it becomes a testament to lived experiences and a powerful telling of stories passed down through generations. My choreography seamlessly blends personal and cultural narratives with religious undertones, grounding my work in authenticity while allowing for contemporary interpretations.
My costume designs complement my dance, serving as more than mere ornamentation. They are tangible representations of Africanist culture and Black aesthetics. As I craft each piece, I am guided by the rich tapestries of tradition and the vibrant hues of Caribbean life. Every stitch and every hue pays homage to the art, culture, and spirit of our people. My mission is to ensure that my work illuminates the beauty, resilience, and dynamism of the African Caribbean legacy, seamlessly blending tradition with modernity and history with the present.
I am committed to knowledge production through scholarly research, the exploration of Caribbean and African diaspora movement, and the choreographic process.
Photography- Monte’
“Culture is that part of education which enriches the mind. The dance is traditional and tradition gives security. Tradition is the foundation on which cultural elements can be built for one element impinges upon another.”— David, Christine. Folklore of Carriacou.
Photography - Meagan Helman