Kieron Dwayne Sargeant
Assistant Professor
Office: Sports Center 230
Telephone: 518-580-5382
Fax: 518-580-8356
Email: ksargeant@skidmore.edu
Hailing from Trinidad and Tobago, Kieron Dwayne Sargeant is an embodiment of African-Caribbean Diaspora traditions. An interdisciplinary artist, choreographer, drummer, and astute dance researcher.
Over two decades, Kieron has meticulously documented Caribbean and Western African dance traditions. His pedagogical approach involves the dissemination of dance teachings and workshops that both recognize and reinforce these traditions. His performance pieces often integrate spiritual, cultural, and sacred themes. Notably, his work "He Shall Walk" (2022), presented by Northwestern Black Arts Consortium, offers a profound exploration of his personal journey as a "Mourner". Through choreography, he examines the generational wisdom and history that resonate within the body, manifesting at moments of introspection.
Kieron's contributions to the realm of masterclasses are evident in renowned institutions and organizations such as Woezo Africa Music and Dance Theatre Inc, The International Association of Blacks in Dance, NYU Steinhardt and Simon Fraser University. Additionally, his choreographic endeavors have graced stages from Suny Brockport University to international venues via the MSC Cruise line, and he has collaborated with eminent figures in the dance world, including Thomas Talawa Prestø, Makeda Thomas and Caroline Copeland.
Academically, Kieron is accomplished, holding an MFA from Florida State University, an MA from Ohio University, and a BA from the University of West Indies. Among his notable recognitions are the 2019 FA Ada Belle Winthrop King Art Endowment Award, 2020 UNESCO Dance Fellowship and a Grant Wood Fellow in Interdisciplinary Performance in 2022 from the University of Iowa.
In 2020, he established the Kieron Sargeant Dance and Dance Education Foundation in Trinidad and Tobago, fostering an environment conducive for artistic growth. Recent accolades include the 2021 International Artist Award from Ayjano Folklore Heritage and Performing Arts Institution of Nigeria and an influential mentorship role with the Mojuba Dance Collective Company.
Kieron remains actively engaged in collaborative projects affiliated with Hofstra University and Rutgers University. His collaborations with international scholars and artists further underscore his commitment to understanding and enhancing the global impact of African influences on dance traditions.