ERA Dance Company produces contemporary modern dance theater to serve as a reflection of shared human truths. The company shares the beauty of the human condition by being honest about human experience through creative, kinetic, and abstract storytelling.
ERA Dance Company is dedicated to using dance as a force for service and connection. Through innovative choreographic performance, transformative educational experiences, and meaningful community engagement, the company strives to be of service—to the arts, to the community, and to humanity.
Jelani Taylor - Founder, Artistic & Executive Director
Jelani Taylor is a dancer, choreographer, and arts administrator from Virginia Beach, Virginia, currently working out of New York City. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of ERA Dance Company and the Artists of Color Council Coordinator for Movement Research. Jelani’s choreography has been presented nationally at Inside/Out at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Danspace Project’s Draftwork program, the National Dance Society Conference (NDS), and various festivals in Virginia and New York City. He has performed in work by Merce Cunningham, Nathan Trice, Sinclair O’Gaga, and Mariah Lopez. Jelani and ERA Dance Company were artist/company in residence at Norfolk State University, a part of the Digging in Group, Artist Residency program at Green Space Studio and a 2024/25 Performance Project Fellow at University Settlement. Jelani graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) with a B.F.A in Dance and Choreography in 2019. While at VCU, Jelani was the recipient of the African American Studies Department’s “Black History in the Making” Award.
“The movements are simple, what is compelling is the transitions, which are subtle and almost imperceptible, making the work fluid and organic.”
“...emotionally charged and full of yearning.”