Candace Perry

Areas of Expertise

• Contemporary dance and the jazz dance continuum from a Black American perspective

Education

• BFA in dance, minor in business, George Mason University (2014)
• MFA in choreography, University of North Carolina at Greensboro (2024)

View my CV

What's My Why?

My why is grounded in experience and shaped by personal history. From studio classes and concert stages to music videos, live music and social gatherings, each encounter with dance has influenced my research, choreography and teaching. Dance connects me to others and anchors me in our shared humanity, cultural traditions and global histories. I dance to affirm existence and create to make sense of it. I feel the greatest joy moving with loved ones and sharing this love of dance with students, inviting them to experience movement both personally and in connection with others.

Professional Experience

I am a performer, choreographer and educator with broad experience in training and performance. I’ve worked as a dancer and aerialist with Holland America and Royal Caribbean International, where I also served as the dance captain. My performance career also includes Rioult Dance New York, Mary Kay Cosmetics and Snap-on Tools, as well as work as a maintenance choreographer at Walt Disney World for Festival of the Lion King and Mickey’s Most Merriest Christmas. My choreography has been broadcast nationally with Washington DC's Cherry Blossom Festival, and has been seen in the musicals "Into the Woods" and "Wild Party" at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.