Kevin McEwen – Biography

A native of Brooklyn New York, Kevin’s love for dance goes back to the early days of break dancing and reggae dancehall competitions across the city.

Kevin has over 18 years experience as a performing artist and dance educator. His foundation in African Diasporic artforms is grounded in dance technique from Senegal, Mali and Guinea. Over the past several years, Kevin has broadened his dance repertoire by studying under dance masters to include Afro Cuban, Afro Jazz, Haitian Folkloric, and the Martha Graham Modern/Contemporary dance technique.

When Kevin isn’t dancing, he spends his time as an apprentice percussionist under the tutelage of Griot Percussionist Medoune Yacine Gueye, learning the techniques of the D’jembe, D’jun D’jun, Sabar and Kutiro drums.

A sought-after dance educator, Kevin has taught West African Dance Classes nationally and internationally. He has also taught Dance Classes for the Dance Institute of Washington, John Hansen French Immersion School, TC Williams High School, American , New York University, Iona College and the Sitar Arts Center.

Kevin’s other projects include dance collaborations with Sesame Flyers International, Asè Dance Collective, GayleForce Publishing, the Howard University Dance Department and the creation of the Re-Definition of Manhood (ROM) Project, which gives guidance to young black African American men through mentorship, performing arts development and rites of passage indoctrination. His choreographed work entitled “Nagnou Fecc – The Men MUST Dance” was his artistic protest to the increased and rampant assault on the black male identity. “We are at a place and time where we are literally being hunted down and assassinate by those who think they control us, however it is my belief that these strategic emasculating activities are happening to us as a whole only because we allow them to happen.”

Mr. McEwen is the founder and artistic director to the Kofago Dance Ensemble, which provides training and performing opportunities to young aspiring artists. He is also a professor at Queensborough Community College, where he produces an annual full-length production “QCC Kwanzaa Celebration” in December. Kevin’s future goal is to obtain a Doctorate of Education, where his dissertation will highlight the need for diversity in collegiate level dance education.