Meet Deven Crawford a 19-year-old Las Vegas Nevada native who is living his dream. The former dance major at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts happened to meet Jamel Gaines at the 2024 IABD (International Association of Black in Dance) conference. Today Crawford is a sophomore studying dance at Marymount College in Manhattan and one of the newest members of the Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet Dance Company (JGCO).
This season marks the beginning of Crawford’s second year as a JGCO member and second season performing in Remembering – Gaines’ multimedia Black History manifesto. The work’s annual presentation for young audience and the public at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music Fisher Fishman Space) has become one Brooklyn’s most anticipated Black history event. This year the company will present six young audience performance, February 11th 12th and 13th at 10 and 12noon, and one evening performance open to the public February 13th at 7:30pm.
It is always inspiring to share the stories of young artists who come to make their fortune and fame in New York City – the real field of dreams. They come with a spark in the eye, exuberant spirts and a dance bag full of possibilities. Fearless. Committed. And unstoppable.
Met Deven Crawford
O&A NYC Editor-in-Chief Walter Rutledge discussed with Crawford his past, and present dreams for the future on the eve of his second season performing Remembering.
