DEVON LOUIS who hails from Washington, DC, is a graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts. He attended the Ailey School as a recipient of the Oprah Winfrey Scholarship, and furthered his dance education at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival under the direction of Milton Myers. Mr. Louis has performed works by Alvin Ailey, Matthew Rushing, Christopher Huggins, Nathan Trice, Ronald K. Brown and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. He has also performed as a member of Ballet Hispanico’s junior company, BHdos; The Metropolitan Opera; and Nimbus Dance Works. Mr. Louis joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Summer 2018.
“I didn’t know about modern dance until I turned thirteen. Around that time I had the opportunity to see Matthew Rushing perform Ailey’s Love Songs; I wanted to make people feel the way he made me feel.”
Audition: “The second time I auditioned for Taylor I had a huge Afro; they didn’t recognize me until I started walking across the floor.”
Inspiration: “Syzygy made me want to really invest in being a Taylor dancer.”
Taylor’s work: “Eclectic. Dramatic. Impactful.”
Favorite song: “McCoy Tyner’s ‘Contemplation.’”
Great place: “Lugano, Switzerland.”
Favorite artwork: “Goya’s ‘Saturn Devouring His Son.’”
Personal catchphrase: “If you got it, you got it.”
Fun facts: “I’m into fashion and jewelry. I write poetry; I love Kahlil Gibran and Maya Angelou. And I’d like to choreograph in the future.”
Devon Louis in Kyle Abraham’s Only the Lonely, photo by Nina Wurtzel.
