Thaddeus Davis & Tanya Wideman-Davis

Columbia, SC and Chicago, IL

Thaddeus Davis is the Co-Artistic Director of Wideman/Davis Dance and is on faculty as an Assistant Professor at The University of South Carolina. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Butler University in 1993 and his Master of Fine Arts from Hollins University/ADF in 2011. After an extensive performing career with leading professional companies, he continues to perform, research, choreograph, collaborate, and teach.

His current research explores the intersections of gender, class, race, and technology through an African American lens. His research is reflected in his choreography and writings, including: A Dissembled Life (2011), Dance Theatre of Harlem: Modernism, History, Culture (2011), and Balance (2009).

In addition to collaborative awards with Tanya Wideman-Davis, Thaddeus has received multiple honors and grants for his work including: Cultural Envoy to Portugal, U.S. State Department (2007), Highlight of the Arts Season, Commercial Appeal, Memphis (2006), Winner of The New American Talent Choreographers Competition, Ballet Austin (2005), Choo San Goh Award for Choreography (2004), Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” (2002), Best Premiere of the Season, Dance Europe, Once Before, Twice After (2002-03), New York Times Top Ten Dance Highlights of the season, Once Before, Twice After (2002) calling it “reassuring evidence of New York dance’s promising future,” and Butler University’s “50 Under 50” (2004).

Thaddeus performed with many renowned companies including Donald Byrd/The Group (1998-2002), Dance Theater of Harlem (1994-1998), Complexions Contemporary Ballet (1995-2005), Fugate/Bahiri Ballet NY Dance Galaxy (2000-2002), Indianapolis Ballet (1991-1993), Fukuoka City Ballet (1995), and Atlanta Dance Theater (1988).

Tanya Wideman-Davis is the Co-Artistic Director of Wideman/Davis Dance and is on faculty as Assistant Professor at The University of South Carolina. With an extensive career as a dancer, choreographer, and teacher, Tanya completed her Master of Fine Arts from Hollins University/ADF (2012). She continues to perform, research, choreograph, teach, and collaborate.

Tanya’s academic and choreographic research, as well as her speaking, examine race, gender, femininity, identity, and location. This research grounds her choreographic method and performances and challenges the traditional methodologies and ideologies of classical ballet. Research projects include Dance Theater of Harlem: Radical Black Female Bodies (2014), Female Relationships: The Gender Gap in Dance (2012), The queering of a life of dance and HIV/AIDS (2011). Tanya’s MFA Thesis work, REVEAL, premiered at the American Dance Festival in Durham, NC in 2012. She has developed online courses and/or spoken for colleges, including the University of Wisconsin – Peck School of the Arts and Goucher College. She spoke at Dance/USA’s national conference, in sessions entitled Race and Dance Town Hall: Real Talk, and on African American Women in Ballet.  

Tanya has danced with many world-renown companies, including Dance Theater of Harlem (1993-1998 and as Principal Dancer 2000-2002), The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago (1990-2000), Complexions Contemporary Ballet (1998-2001), Dance Galaxy: Fugate/Bahiri Ballet NY (2000-2001), Alonzo King Lines Ballet (2002-2004), and Spectrum Dance Theater (2004-2005). She has served as Guest Artist for Cleveland San Jose Ballet (1999), Donald Byrd: The Group (2000), Spectrum Dance Theater (2006), Ballet Memphis (2006), and Quorum Ballet, Portugal (2008-2009).

Tanya has received critical acclaim as a performer. She has been noted by New York Dance Fax as “distinctive for the power of her secure pointe work and her personality.” She has received international acclaim and was honored as “Best Female Dancer of 2001-2002” by Dance Europe magazine. Tanya trained with many of the premier schools in the country including: The Academy of Movement and Music, The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, The Joffrey Ballet School, The Pacific Northwest Ballet School, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Chicago City Ballet, and The Dance Theatre of Harlem.