Derick McKoy, Jr.
Derick McKoy, Jr. (Miami, Florida) is a graduate Glorya Kaufman scholar of the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program in Dance. Currently, a dancer with Dallas Black Dance Theatre under the direction of Melissa M. Young, Derick has performed with Nimbus Dance, Jeremy McQueen’s Emmy-award-winning The Black Iris Project, and on the hit tv show POSE on FX. On stage, Derick has performed works by Alvin Ailey, Matthew Rushing, Crystal Pite, Jiri Kylian, Nacho Duato, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Dawn Marie Bazemore, Sharon Eyal, Alejandro Cerrudo, Marco Goecke, Adam Barruch, and many others.
Derick started his official training under Luctricia Welters and after a year, joined her dance company, Jubilee Dance Theater. He furthered his training at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Arts Umbrella, BalletX, Ballet Hispanico, Springboard Danse Montreal, under scholarships, as well as NW Dance Project’s LAUNCH.
As a choreographer, Derick is an award-winning voice revered for his storytelling through movement. His repertoire has been described as “authentic”, “dramatic”, and “important.” Most recently, Derick was one of four choreographers selected to choreograph at the Joffrey Academy in Chicago, Official School of the Joffrey Ballet. His works have been presented at several performance venues around the country including Ailey Citigroup Theater, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance, Ades Performance Space, and at the Youth American Grand Prix.
Mr. McKoy founded McKoy Dance Project || MDP so he could use his voice and his leadership to consistently invest into the dance world and the community. MDP is a strong, but sensitive new voice in contemporary dance. The company was founded on five pillars and seeks to be a platform of visibility and celebration for people of color and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Now in its fourth season, the company is continuously expanding and heavily focused on increasing its visibility and the scope of its mission.
Fun Facts:
- Favorite Color? Orange!
- If you know me, you know I am obsessed with gummy bears. I’m a gummy bear connoisseur.
- I learn languages very quickly. Currently, I hope to become fully fluent in Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese.
Every time we let a moment pass us without action or discovery, we prevent ourselves from becoming who we are meant to be.
Derick McKoy, Jr.
Header image: Founder and Executive AD Derick McKoy, Jr. Photo by Tania Palomeque. Top Left: Founder and Executive AD Derick Mckoy, Jr in Midday Sorrow by Adam Barruch. Top Center: Headshot of Founder and Executive AD Derick McKoy, Jr. Photo by Tania Palomeque. Top Right: Founder and Executive AD Derick McKoy, Jr jumping mid air. Photo by Nir Areli. Bottom Left: Founder and Executive AD Derick McKoy, Jr with MDP Dancers. Photo by Mariah Gravelin. Bottom Right: Founder and Executive AD Derick Mckoy, Jr. in rehearsal for Dear Fragile & Broken Thing. Photo by Amina Vargas.
McKoy Dance Project 