It’s exciting enough that two dancers from New York’s prestigious Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater are coming to COCA as co-artistic directors of dance, but that one of them is a COCA alum makes the news that much sweeter. Antonio Douthit-Boyd, who was raised in north St. Louis, will return home to take on his new role alongside spouse Kirven Douthit-Boyd. Town&Style spoke with Antonio about achieving his dreams, his plans to put St. Louis on the dance map and why he credits Beyoncé for his career.
T&S | How did you get started with dance?
AD | I just kind of fell into it. My friends and I were walking around and heard music coming from this dance studio at the corner of Compton and Washington avenues, and we wanted to check it out. The instructor almost called the cops on us, but let us stay and watch. She said if we were really serious to come back the next day. So I did, and I never left dance after that.
T&S | You started at COCA shortly after?
AD | I took modern dance at that first studio for about six months, but the teacher realized I needed different instruction and knew COCA was the place for young talent. After seeing me in a jazz class, an instructor at COCA told the executive director I needed a scholarship, and they just gave me one! I danced seven days a week. I took ballet at COCA and at Alexandra Ballet in Chesterfield, and I also took classes at my high school, Central Visual and Performing Arts School. Being exposed to so many different styles made me the versatile dancer I am today.
T&S | What made you so passionate about it from the beginning?
AD | The discipline. I came from a childhood without a lot of structure, so I craved that. It gave me something to strive for. I would watch the kids around me, always trying to figure out how I could be just as good. The thrill of it all was exciting.
T&S | Explain the road to becoming a member of Alvin Ailey.
AD | My mom’s biggest dream was for me to graduate high school (I was the first in my family to do so) and college. All I wanted to do was dance, so I found a great program at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where I could do both. After a year, my teacher encouraged me to go to New York and audition for companies because she said there was such a short window to perfect the craft. I took her advice and earned a spot with a ballet company, Dance Theatre of Harlem, where I was a soloist after three years. I heard about an emergency audition at Ailey, and 12 years later, here I am. I thank Beyoncé for my career because the male dancer whose spot I filled left to go on tour with her!
T&S | What was it like with Alvin Ailey?
AD | It was so surreal once I made it in, to dance with such icons and have such amazing instruction. I worked hard and soaked it all in like a sponge. I had so many great opportunities to travel the world and perform. And I met my husband (also a member) my second year there.
T&S | Why leave now?
AD | When it’s time, it’s time. I was with the company for 12 years, and who doesn’t want to leave at the top? For the past 10 years, Kirven and I have been teaching and mentoring at COCA during our break in January instead of taking a vacation. It was a way to keep our brains going and our bodies physically active. After a few years, we saw the students’ progress, and we knew teaching was our next calling. We want to be able to teach dancers when we still have the capability to actually show them techniques.
T&S | What are your goals for COCA?
AD | We’ll teach, choreograph and coordinate programs, me mostly with ballet and Kirven with jazz, tap and hip-hop. Our main goal is to bring an international platform for dance to St. Louis. The city and COCA already have done an amazing job of offering dance to the community, and we want to keep the caliber of dance at COCA at a very high level. We want to offer the same quality programs here as in Chicago or New York so dancers don’t have to leave. We’re very excited. Once I left for New York, I thought St. Louis was behind me. But I always missed it. Kirven really pushed for this, and we’re up for the challenge!
Pictured: Kirven and Antonio Douthit-Boyd
Photo: Jacob Blickenstaff
