Dwight Rhoden

Age: 55 Provenance: Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. Training: Started training in ballet and modern dance at 17. Career: The former principal dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater co-founded the renowned Complexions Contemporary Ballet in 1994. Prolific and versatile, Rhoden has choreographed for everyone from the Mariinsky Ballet to Cirque du Soleil to Prince.

What he’s created: “The piece, in essence, is about love and connection,” he says about “Let’s Begin at the End.” Rhoden created intricate canons of movement for seven couples, and layered an evocative gestural language on top. A lone dancer wanders through their midst, and “you might think of him as Cupid, you might think of him as an intruder.” Music by Bach, Philip Glass and Michael Nyman drives the momentum.

Is ballet dead? “Give me a break,” he says. “People are creating their own stories, they’re taking chances. Helgi (Tomasson) is toasting that idea of diversity. And we’re not just talking racially, we’re talking about textures, colors, qualities, all the different voices. He really has a profound sense of vision.”

Inspiration: “I’m a voyeur in many ways. I will go sit in the plaza and watch people, how they interact with each other. Humanity and human beings inspire me.” He’s also a selfdescribed news junkie. “I’m hungry for more information.”