Kieron Dwayne Sargeant
Bio
Kieron Dwayne Sargeant is an interdisciplinary artist, choreographer, drummer, and dance researcher from Trinidad and Tobago. He holds an MFA in Dance from Florida State University, an MA from Ohio University, and a BA from the University of the West Indies. Sargeant's career is marked by his dedication to the traditions of the African-Caribbean Diaspora. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Dance at Skidmore College.
Collaborations
Sargeant's performing career includes collaborations with prominent institutions such as Florida State University, Collegium for African Diaspora Dance, Woezo Africa Music and Dance Theatre Inc., the International Association of Blacks in Dance, NYU Steinhardt, the Nigerian Dance Guild, Ecole des Sables, and Simon Fraser University. His choreography has been featured internationally, including performances in the United States, Canada, Cuba, Grenada, Barbados, Togo, Nigeria, and on various European stages with MSC Cruise Lines.
Sargeant's collaborative projects include interdisciplinary research with Rutgers University on Ignatius Sancho, as well as community engagement initiatives like "An Evening of Research and Talk" at the University of Iowa and "Rhythm and Groove" at the Iowa Dance Festival. Sargeant has also been a teaching artist in residence at institutions such as Woezo Africa Music and Dance Theatre Inc., the University of Iowa, and the New Waves Dance and Performance Institute. Additionally, he has collaborated with eminent dance figures including Thomas Talawa Prestø, Caroline Clay, Makeda Thomas, and Caroline Copeland.
Publications and Research
Sargeant's research has been published widely, including "Transatlantic Dance Traditions" with Caroline Copeland and "Flick the Skirt: The Amplification of the African Body" (forthcoming chapter in The African Diaspora and Civic Engagement). He continues to present his work at conferences like the Collegium for African Diaspora Dance and the International Association of Blacks in Dance.
Sargeant's research interests include the role of the skirt in Caribbean dance traditions, examining how it serves as a conduit for expression and empowerment. He travels extensively for research, investigating the morphology of African Diaspora and African dances as they intersect with the U.S. classroom, and exploring the relationships and retentions of African dances in the diaspora.
Artistic Work
Sargeant's notable work "He Shall Walk" (2022), presented by Northwestern Black Arts Consortium, delves into his personal journey as a "Mourner," exploring generational wisdom and history through choreography. Sargeant's recent works include choreographing "In the Red and Brown Water" by Tarell Alvin McCraney at the University of Iowa and receiving the Artist in Residency at the New Waves Dance and Performance Institute in 2023. His commissioned works span from projects with Contemporaine Togo and the Virginia Arts Festival to "Rebirth" for Minnesota State University and "He Shall Walk" for the Northwestern Black Arts Consortium.
Awards
Sargeant has received numerous awards, including the 2019 FA Ada Belle Winthrop King Art Endowment Award, the 2020 UNESCO Dance Fellowship, and a Grant Wood Fellowship in Interdisciplinary Performance in 2022 from the University of Iowa. He also serves on the NDEO Award Committee Board.
In 2020, Sargeant founded the Kieron Sargeant Dance and Dance Education Foundation in Trinidad and Tobago, fostering an environment conducive to artistic growth. He has been recognized with the 2021 International Artist Award from Ayjano Folklore Heritage and Performing Arts Institution of Nigeria and the Mayor of the City of San Fernando Citation Award 2023 for his contributions to arts and culture.
Kieron Dwayne Sargeant's dedication to preserving and promoting African-Caribbean dance traditions, combined with his academic and artistic contributions, make him a vital figure in the field of dance. His ongoing efforts in education, performance, and research bridge cultural gaps and foster a deeper understanding of the rich heritage within dance practices.
ARTIST STATEMENT
As an interdisciplinary artist, my canvas is the human body in motion, painted with the vibrant hues of Caribbean and Africanist sensibilities. Grounded in the profound traditions of dances from Trinidad & Tobago, and extending its embrace to the broader tapestry of the African diaspora, my choreography speaks a language that is at once ancient and contemporary.
This rootedness in African-Caribbean dance is not an end, but a beginning. From this foundation, I weave in threads of American Contemporary and Modern Dance. The result is a unique blend that pays homage to tradition while breaking new ground, evoking histories while engaging with the present. Through my work, I aim to showcase the seamless integration of diverse dance lineages and celebrate the boundless possibilities of movement and expression.
In the rhythmic dance of the African Caribbean, I see, feel, and express a living chronicle that captures the visceral pulse of the African Diaspora. Drawing deeply from the Griot tradition, my dance becomes more than just movement—it is a testament to lived experiences, a vocalizing of stories passed down through generations. As I dance, family ethnography melds seamlessly with religious undertones, grounding my work in authenticity while allowing the freedom for contemporary interpretations.
Complementing my dance, my costume designs are more than just ornamental. They are the tangible representation of Africanist culture and black aesthetics. As I craft each piece, I'm guided by the rich tapestries of tradition and the vibrant hues of Caribbean life. Every stitch, every hue is a homage to the art, culture, and spirit of our people. My mission is to ensure that through my work, the beauty, resilience, and dynamism of the African Caribbean legacy shines forth, 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- Meagan Helman
“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