A smiling man with a dark beard and mustache, wearing a light blue checkered dress shirt and a black necklace, against a gray background.

JAMES

Dancer

Choreographer

Educator

Director

James L. Boyd III, is an American choreographer, university professor, international arts director, and a professional dancer with 24 years of experience in the performing arts industries.

Jame’s has gained national and international recognition for his work. Explore his career highlights and discover how he continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

CONTACT JAMES

ARTISTRY

Dance Performance

As a versatile artist with a diverse dance background, James is highly skilled in multiple dance methods and professional dance styles, entertaining audiences worldwide.

A shirtless male dancer performing a jump with one arm raised and one extended to the side, against a black background.
A man with dark skin and a woman with light skin performing an acro yoga pose. The man is shirtless, holding the woman above him with one hand supporting her waist and the other hand supporting her arm. The woman is wearing a light tank top, with her body arched backward and her head tilted back. The background is plain and light-colored.

    • MFA in Choreography, Jacksonville University, August 2020.

    • BFA in Dance and Choreography, Purchase College Suny, May 2010

    Boyd is a graduate of the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and holds a B.F.A. in Dance and Choreography from SUNY Purchase College. During his academic years, he performed works by renowned dance giants such as Merce Cunningham, Bill T. Jones, George Balanchine, and Paul Taylor.

  • Since graduation, Boyd has continued to showcase his talent by sharing the stage with the likes of Elton John, Lady Gaga, Mary J. Blige, and Bruce Springsteen. As a principal artist in the technical dance company, Bad Boys of Dance and Bad Boys of Ballet, he has performed around the world. Boyd has had the privilege of sharing the stage with iconic dance artists such as Misty Copeland, Joseph Gatti, Isaac Hernandez, Eric Underwood, and Rasta Thomas.

    Boyd has also appeared as a guest artist on the hit dance show, "So You Think You Can Dance," and made two television appearances as a semi-finalist on the competitive show, "America's Got Talent."

    • Guest Performer on So You Think You Can Dance

    • Semi-Finalist on Americas Got Talent

    • Live Performance, on stage, with Elton John, Lady Gaga and Bruce Springstien

    • 2x Guest performer Dance Open Gala (Russia)

    • Principal performer for Rock the Ballet - Bad Boys of Dance

    • Performance Galas with Misty Copeland, Issac Hernandez, Alessandre Ferri and more…

    • Performed works by, Merce Cunningham, Bill T. Jones, George Balanchine, and Paul Taylor

    • Coached and trained by Margot Fonteyn’s successor, Ken Ludden

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See James Dance.

Choreography

The breadth of James’ choreography spans multiple styles, dance companies, education centers, and international boundaries.

He is a former Resident Choreographer for United Ballet Theatre and currently a resident Choreographer for Dance Look LLC. He also acts as the Artistic Director for Troy University and Assistant Director and Choreographer for the DAP Festival in Italy where he frequently presents his original choreography.

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  • Assistant Director and Lead Choreographer for Troy University Production: Chaos

    Artistic Director for Troy University Productions: Illusions, Vibe, and Momentum

    Palmer, D. A., Hicks, A., Boyd, J., "Untitled," Troy Dance, Troy University, Troy, Alabama. (January 2022 - April 2022).

    Boyd, J. L., "Identity," Troy University: Spring Dance Concert, Troy University, Troy, Alabama, USA. (November 1, 2019 - February 23, 2020).

    Boyd, J. L., "Glowing Limbs," Troy Theatre and Dance, Troy University, Troy, Alabama. (January 3, 2018 - February 24, 2018).

  • Resident Choreographer for United Ballet Theatre

    Boyd, J. L., "Era of Self," United Ballet Theatre, United Ballet Theatre, Orlando, Fl., United States of America. (July 11, 2022 - July 12, 2023)

    Boyd, J. L., Fleming, K., "Quintessence," United Ballet Theatre, United Ballet Theatre, Orlando, Fl. (April 2021 - March 2022).

    Boyd, J. L., "Carousel," United Ballet Theatre, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Orlando, Florida, USA. (January 3, 2022 - January 14, 2022).

  • Boyd, J. L., "Tethered," Dance Look LLC, Contemporary Dance Film, Co-Choreography, Jacksonville, Florida. (February, 2024).

    Boyd, J. L., "I Love Coffee," Dance Look LLC, Commercial Advertisement, Co-Choreography,  Jacksonville, Florida. (October, 2023).

    Boyd, J. L., "Jax Beach Feels," Dance Look LLC, Dance Film, Choreographer, Jacksonville, Florida. (August, 2023).

    Boyd, J. L., "Adventure Landing," Dance Look LLC, Commercial Advertisement, Co-Choreography, Jacksonville, Florida. (June, 2023).

    Boyd, J. L., "Fuse (Entanglement)" Dance Look LLC, Music Video, Co-Choreography, Jacksonville, Florida. (March, 2022).

  • Boyd, J. L., "Managed Moments," Amelia Island Dance Festival, Dance Festival, Amelia Island, Florida. (September, 2023).

    Boyd, J. L., "Era of Self," DAP Festival, DAP Festival, Pietrasanta, Italy. (June, 2023 - July 12, 2023).

See James Create.

DANCE EDUCATION

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Boyd has worked with multiple universities, corporations, and dance companies both nationally and internationally.

He shares his unique perspectives on dance as a lecturer at Troy University, Artistic Assistant for DAP Festival in Italy, and dance instructor with the industry's best at respected organizations like Dance Educators of America and Manhattan Dance Project.

Boyd's diverse experience and knowledge make him a vital contributor to the future of movement, and he encourages all individuals to remain curious and make discoveries.

Additionally, James is privileged to serve on the following boards: Jacksonville International Airport, Players By The Sea, Alabama Dance Council.

Institutions

  • Professor at Troy University

  • Assistant Director at DAP Festival, Italy 

  • Faculty for Dance Educators of America

  • Faculty for Manhattan Dance Project

Achievements:

The Bridge Project:

Short Documentary Starring James Boyd

Made possible by the PNC Arts Alive grant program, Jacksonville Dance Theatre’s The Bridge Project commissioned a choreographic work by national choreographer and dancer James Boyd. Once the choreography was created, JDT presented the work to diverse and underserved audiences throughout Jacksonville and the region. In 2016-17 JDT served over 1,300 children through The Bridge Project.

DANCE RESEARCH

James Boyd is a movement professional that seeks to reconcile science and dance together to promote an efficient movement industry.

From 2010 to present, he’s gained national and international recognition for his research work including internal and external insight, through research, of how the moving athlete works. This granted him a certification as a Movement Assessment Professional working with multiple Universities, Corporations and Dance Companies.

CONTACT JAMES

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

A group of dancers performing on stage, with one dancer in the foreground leaning forward and others in the background with arms crossed or to their sides, all wearing dark and light-colored costumes.

James is honored to be the Assistant Artistic Director of Danza in Arte a Pietrasanta, Italy!

Jame’s has gained national and international recognition for his work. Explore his career highlights and discover how he continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

DAP FESTIVAL