YoungArts Appoints Dancer/Choreographer Desmond Richardson to Board of Trustees

YoungArts, the core program of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, is pleased to announce that famed dancer/choreographer Desmond Richardson has joined its Board of Trustees. Richardson will be one of two YoungArts Alumni representatives on the Board.

Hailed as one of the great modern dancers of his time, Richardson was a 1986 YoungArts Award Winner in Modern Dance and Presidential Scholar in the Arts. He is Co-founder and Co-Artistic Director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet N.Y. celebrating its 15th year. He has been a Principal dancer with The Alvin Ailey American Dance theater and the American Ballet Theater, and a guest performer with Teatro al la Scala, Royal Swedish Opera ballet, San Francisco Ballet and Washington Ballet. He is a Tony Award Nominee for Fosse on Broadway, and has been a Principal in other Broadway shows including Burt Bacarach/Hal David The Look Of Love and Twyla Tharp's Movin' Out. Richardson has also worked in many films including Oscar Winner Chicago, Julie Taymor Across The Universe and Patrick Swayze/Lisa Niemi One Last dance. He is currently a Celebrity Guest Judge on the hit show AMICI in Rome, Italy and Celebrity Choreographer on Fox's So You think You Can Dance. In January of 2010 he was the recipient of YoungArts' annual Arison Award.

Richardson joins the YoungArts Board at a time of organizational growth and development. He brings to the table a wealth of knowledge about the dance community, as well as a unique insider's perspective of the YoungArts program, and will assist the organization as it ushers in its next era of excellence in the arts.

YoungArts is the signature national program that recognizes and supports talented young artists in nine disciplines in the visual, literary and performing arts. The program provides 17-18 year old high school senior artists with unique artistic enrichment experiences, performance and exhibition opportunities and financial support. Alumni include Emmy nominated actress Vanessa Williams, three-time Tony Award nominee Raul Esparza, star of HBO's Entourage, Adrian Grenier and Warner Brothers Recording Artist Josh Groban.

YoungArts is the sole nominating agency for Presidential Scholars in the Arts. For more information, please visit www.youngarts.org

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