RAY MERCER

RAY MERCER is a native of Omaha, NE, and started his dance training at the University of New Orleans. He is presently in his 17th year as a  dancer and fight captain in Disney's The Lion King on Broadway. Other performance credits include projects with Garth Fagan, George Faison, Aretha Franklin, Kevin Iega Jeff, Louis Johnson, Rod  Stewart, and two years on the national tour of The Lion King, as well as Chicago's Deeply Rooted Dance Theater  (company member), and Boston Ballet (guest artist). 

Throughout his tenure on Broadway, Mercer has also donated his time to create work for various initiatives within Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids (Dancers Responding to AIDS, Fire Island Dance Festival,  Red Bucket Follies, and more). His presentations earned the coveted 'Best Onstage Presentation Award' a record ten times, making him the most celebrated choreographer at BC/EFA's annual fundraising events,  which raises millions of dollars each year to provide support to members of the theatre community. This accomplishment, coupled with creations for premiere dance companies (Ailey II, Dallas Black Dance Theatre,  Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, New Jersey Ballet, the  Pensacola Ballet, Philadanco), landed him among New York City's most innovative, multiskilled director/choreographers. 

A dynamic, virtuosic mover, Ray walks in the legacy of Black dance progenitors, carrying both the historical and the vanguard in his body.  He is uncannily facile in creating work that surprises and delights. His ability to lead in partnership with his dancers forges space for them to execute movements that they previously thought impossible.  This excitement adds to the infectious, disarming expression that characterizes his body of work. 

Ray Mercer is the resident choreographer for the Ailey/Fordham  Bachelor of Fine Arts program and Philadanco. He is Artist in Residence at Omaha Performing Arts and tall poPpy Artists. The Smithsonian  Museum commissioned and archived his work Hamdan: Through The  Gate Of Tears. 

Ray's theatrical contributions include work as the choreographer of Deep Love: A Ghostly Rock Opera at The New York Musical Theatre Festival, In Our America, directed by Liesl Tommy, for Broadway for  Biden, developing arts in education programs, and mentoring young theater artists.