FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Joffrey Concert Group Announces the Selected Choreographers for the 2026 Creative Movers Choreographic Initiative
New York, NY – August 6, 2025 – The Joffrey Concert Group is proud to announce the selected choreographers for the fourth annual Creative Movers Choreographic Initiative (CMCI): Bernard H. Gaddis and Clifford Williams. This unique initiative reflects the company’s mission to nurture choreographic talent and provide access to valuable choreographic resources.
The Creative Movers Choreographic Initiative is a platform that supports the development of new dance work in contemporary, modern, and contemporary ballet styles. Through a competitive selection process, two choreographers are awarded a $2,500 stipend, 40 hours of rehearsal time over four weeks, and the opportunity to create a new piece with the Joffrey Concert Group dancers. Each resulting work, between 12 to 17 minutes in length, will premiere as part of a fully produced performance at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater.
The 2026 CMCI performance, In My Art, will feature new works by Bernard H.Gaddis, Clifford Williams, and Joffrey Concert Group Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer Bradley Shelver. Performances will take place February 20–21, 2026, at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater in New York City.
About the Joffrey Concert Group
The Joffrey Concert Group, located in the heart of New York City, is a cornerstone of our institution. Founded by Robert Joffrey in 1981, it serves as a pre-professional performing ensemble for young artists carefully selected from the Joffrey Ballet School’s year-round Trainee Program. Over the years, our talented Trainees have had the privilege of studying and performing iconic classical and contemporary repertoire, including works by renowned choreographers such as Gerald Arpino, Robert Battle, George Balanchine, and many others.
Under the visionary leadership of Artistic Director Bradley Shelver, the Joffrey Concert Group aims to continue its tradition of excellence. The ensemble was successfully rebooted in September 2022, setting the stage for the next generation of artists to shine.
Learn more: www.joffreyconcertgroupnyc.com
About the Choreographers
Bradley Shelver (Artistic Director/Resident Choreographer)
Bradley Shelver trained at the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg and at The Ailey School in New York. He has danced with the Ailey II, Elisa Monte Dance, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, The Francesca Harper Project, Limón Dance Company, Phoenix Dance Theater (UK) and in projects with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Co., Lar Lubovich Dance, The Universal Ballet, Radio City Music Hall, and in productions with the Mark Morris Dance Group. He is in his 13th season as a principal dancer with The Metropolitan Opera Ballet and serves on its Artistic Advisory Board.. Mr. Shelver has choreographed works for; Joffrey Ballet Concert Group, Contemporary West Dance Theater, Graham 2, St Louis Dance Theater, Richmond Ballet, Ailey II, Ballet Austin, Lustig Dance Theater, Compania Rio Danca, New Jersey Dance Theater Ensemble, Cape Dance Company, Cedar Lake 2, Sobers & Godley Dance, Nexus Dance Lab, as well as creating works for The Royal Danish and Royal Swedish Ballet Schools, Joffrey Ballet School, Central Ballet School (London) The Ailey School, Boston Conservatory, Long Island University and Purchase College.
He was co-producer and curator for the annual REVERBdance Festival from 2010-2016. From 2013-2016, he was the Artistic Director of the STEPS Repertory Ensemble and the Production Director for Steps on Broadway. He is currently the Artistic Director of The Joffrey Concert Group and the Acting Artistic Director of Joffrey’s Jazz and Contemporary Trainee program. He has been company teacher for Mathew Bourne’s “Adventures in Motion Pictures”, The Lion King on Broadway, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Elisa Monte Dance. Mr Shelver is on the faculty of schools and universities worldwide including ABT/JKO School, Adjunct Professor at Montclair State University, The Limòn Institute, Complexions Contemporary Ballet Academy, Royal Danish and Royal Swedish Ballet Schools, The Ailey School, La Guardia High School for the Performing Arts, Joffrey Ballet School, Bikuratim (Israel), Pan American Modern Dance School (Brazil), Hinton Battle Academy. (Tokyo), DAR Jazz Academy (Russia) among others. He is a certified ballet teacher with the ABT National Training Curriculum. He was a contributing writer for Dance Spirit Magazine and His book, “Performance Through the Dance Technique of Lester Horton” is available worldwide.
Bernard H. Gaddis
Founder and Artistic Director of Contemporary West Dance Theatre & Conservatory (CWDT) is the first professional Contemporary dance company in the history of Nevada and is now celebration its 16th year. Mr. Gaddis’ is also the first person of color to establish a major professional dance company in the state of Nevada. Bernard has choreographed over 32
ballets some of his works can been seen on various dance companies and universities and was recently chosen for the Jacob Pillow ACDA dance festival. Bernard’s dance studies began in Philadelphia at the High School for the Performing Arts, where he received numerous awards and scholarships; including a full scholarship to the prestigious Governor’s School for the
performing Arts, a school for gifted dance students. Mr. Gaddis has also received scholarships to Pennsylvania Ballet, Dance Theater of Harlem, Princeton Ballet, & The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Bernard’s first professional dance experience was with the Philadelphia dance company “Philadanco” under the direction of the renowned Joan Myers Brown. Bernard has since been a certified Master Horton and Ballet teacher that has been teaching for the past twenty years both nationally and internationally to many dancers in Universities and Professional companies.
Bernard became the Co-Founder, Artistic Director and Choreographer for Philadanco’s second performing company D2. Bernard has received numerous awards for his role as Artistic Director & Choreographer, most notably the prestigious award for Men Making a Difference in the city of Philadelphia presented to him by Senator Chakka Fattah and the Living the Dream award for community leadership and helping solidify the arts here in Las Vegas.
A principal dancer with The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Bernard danced under the Directorship of the renowned Judith Jamison. Bernard joined the L.A. cast of The Broadway Musical The Lion King as a principal dancer and chorus singer. Mr. Gaddis was a Principal Artist for several Cirque Du Soleil shows in Las Vegas, performing as a Dancer, Choreographer and Dance Captain for one of the headlining acts in Zumanity and Mystere.
Clifford Williams
Williams began his dance training at F.H. LaGuardia High School of Art and the Performing Arts. He attended The Ailey School and The School of American Ballet, both on scholarship. He was a first-level recipient of a National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts award in 1998. In 1998, he attended The Juilliard School, where he danced works by many choreographers, including Lar Lubovitch, Igal Perry, Hans Van Manen, José Limón, and Mauricio Wainrot. In 2001, he was invited to join the Dance Theatre of Harlem, where he danced until 2003.
In 2004, Mr. Williams joined Complexions Contemporary Ballet (New York, NY). He has danced works by Dwight Rhoden, William Forsythe, Nicolo Fonte, and Jae Man Joo. And many others Since 2004, Mr. Williams has assisted Director/Choreographer Dwight Rhoden on numerous projects including ballets for Peridace (PCDC) North Carolina Dance Theater, Pittsburgh Ballet, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, The Diana Vishneva Project, Ballet San Jose, Israel Ballet, Teatro Dell’Opera Di Roma Ballet de Nice , San Francisco Ballet , Pacific Northwest Ballet as well as for the television show “So You Think You Can Dance.” He has also set Dwight Rhoden’s works on The Ailey School/Fordham University, Boston Conservatory, SMU, Harvard University, Marymount University, USC, Indiana University, and NYU Tisch School for the Arts.
In 2008, Mr. Williams left Complexions to dance as a Principal dancer with Compañia Nacional De Danza under the Direction of Nacho Duato. During that time, he danced many principal parts and was featured in creations by Mr. Duato. Mr. Williams rejoined Complexions from 2009-2012. In 2014, Williams was featured in Debbie Allen’s “The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker” as the Title character, which aired on BET Network. In 2015, Williams was featured in the STARZ mini series as well as nominated for the prestigious Benois de la Danse for Dwight Rhoden’s “Ave Maria,” which he danced with Misty Copeland. Williams then toured an international production “The Great Gatsby” the only American principal dancer among principals from the Marinskii Ballet. In 2020, Williams was featured in NETFLIX’S Debbie Allen’s “Nutcracker Dreams” as well as “In The Heights” Motion picture. 2018-2022 Williams began a more in-depth role with Complexions Academy, serving as the Director of the Pre-Pro Division as well as being one of few certified in teaching “Nique” the official Contemporary Ballet technique of Complexions Contemporary Ballet. 2020-2022 Williams served as Rehearsal Director for Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Williams continues to teach and choreograph, in addition to staging Rhoden works all over the world.
Contact:
Joffrey Concert Group
Email: info@joffreyconcertgroupnyc.com
Publicity Contact:
Audrey Ross Publicity
Email: audreyrosspub@aol.com
Phone: +1 (929) 222-3973
