Bio

Since 1976, Donald Byrd has created over eighty works for his former and present companies, Donald Byrd/The Group and Spectrum Dance Theater, and for major modern and classical dance companies including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Joffrey Ballet. However, he is probably best known for The Harlem Nutcracker, his re-visioning of the classic ballet. Byrd is the Tony-nominated choreographer for the hit Broadway musical The Color Purple and has choreographed at San Francisco Opera, New York City Opera, and Nederlandse Opera. He choreographed Julius Caesar for his debut at Seattle Opera in 2007 and returns to the company in 2008 for Aida.