Gelan Lambert plays three characters – J.K., Tap Dancer and Egungun in Fela Ensemble on Broadway. He spoke with AfrobeatRadio’s Akenataa Hammagaadji about life on Broadway, dancing away on the Fela. Originally from Miami, Florida, and of Haitian descent, he is a graduate of The Juilliard School with a BFA in dance. Gelan began his formative training at Dancexchange Inc., and at the New World School of the Arts. He also trained at The Ailey School, Broadway Theater Project, The Joffrey Ballet School and School of American Ballet.

His professional credits include The Martha Graham Dance Company, Sean Curran Company, Fosse (1st National Tour), A Christmas Carol (Madison Square Garden Theater), Encores Golden Boy, NYC Opera’s Alcina/Turandot, and a featured performer for Jacob’s Pillow Katherine Dunham Tribute conceived and directed by Reginald Yates.

He has presented solo concerts at Jacob’s Pillow, Stella Adler Studio (as resident artist), Florida International University and George Faison Firehouse Theater. His awards and honors include Martha Hill Prize from The Juilliard School, National Foundation for Advancement of Arts-1st Place, Presidential Scholar for the Arts, National Society of Arts and Letters (1st Place) and Jerome Foundation Fellow.

Listen to Akenataa’s conversation with Gelan below:

Gelan Lambert has danced the works of Alvin Ailey, Hinton Battle, Margie Gillis, Jiri Kylian, Jose Limon, Donald McKayle, Mia Michaels, Reginald Yates and others.

Akenaata Hammagaadji is an African music expert and cultural critic. He is the radio host of First World Music; an African music programme broadcast from WVKR. His insightful music reviews, which goes beyond music into cultural dissections, can be found in his weekly First World Music Newsletter, now a blog on afrobeatradio.net