Lawrence M. Jackson

Lawrence M. Jackson, holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from The University of Southern Mississippi and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance from Florida State University, serves as Professor of Dance at the George Mason University School of Dance. His extensive career in academia includes leadership roles such as Associate Chair of Dance, Associate Professor of Dance, and Director of Graduate Studies in Dance at the University of Alabama. During this time, he also assumed artistic directorship roles for prominent entities like the Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre, Dance Alabama, The MFA Dance Concert, and Dance Collection within the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Professionally, Lawrence has a rich background with the renowned modern dance company, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. He has further showcased his artistry as a guest artist in various concert dance venues. Notably, he presented "I Walk with Spirit" at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. As a prolific choreographer, Lawrence has crafted over 95 original works, including the off-Broadway production "Separate and Equal," earning a nomination for an AUDELCO Award for Best Choreography.

Lawrence has contributed significantly as a guest artist, choreographer, and master teacher across numerous institutions and dance organizations such as The International Ballet Competition, Rhode Island College, University of Michigan, California State University Northridge, University of Nevada Las Vegas, University of Florida, University of Northern Colorado, West Virginia University and many others. His impact extends to notable events and festivals such as the American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive, Alabama Dance Festival, and the International Association of Blacks in Dance.

In the realm of scholarship, Lawrence has made valuable contributions, particularly in the field of Black Dance. His noteworthy achievements include authoring, co-editing, and publishing a special edition on Black Dance in the Journal of Pan African Studies, marking a significant milestone in the academic recognition of this dance genre. Currently serving on the editorial board of “Siyabonana: The Journal of Africana Studies,” Lawrence was recently honored with The University of Alabama’s President’s Faculty Research Award for a Mid-Career Scholar, recognizing his dedication to advancing scholarly discourse in dance. In addition to his academic achievements, Lawrence is an esteemed board member of the International Ballet Competition and Ballet 5:8.

Degrees:

• MFA, Dance, Florida State University
• BFA, Dance, The University of Southern Mississippi