Davalois Fearon is a critically acclaimed choreographer, dancer, and educator, who is currently a Core Faculty Lecturer at Princeton University. Davalois was a 2017 Bessie awardee and a 2021-22 Jerome Hill Artist Fellow finalist. Her 12 years with the Stephen Petronio Company is now reflected in her work as founder and director of Davalois Fearon Dance (DFD). 

DFD pushes artistic and social boundaries to highlight injustice and inequality and spark vital conversations about change. Fearon’s work has been presented nationally and internationally, including at the Joyce Theater and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Among many others, she has completed commissions for the Bronx Museum of the Arts and Barnard College. Her abundant honors and awards include DanceNYC’s Dance Advancement Fund Award and grants from the MAP Fund and the Howard Gilman Foundation.

In today’s episode, ⁠Davalois Fearon⁠ discusses the culture shock she experienced when moving from the Bronx to the SUNY Purchase campus in White Plains, her college experience, professional auditions, and joining of the Stephen Petronio Company. She also discusses the creation of her dance company, DFD, some of her brilliant works including Time to Talk and For C.J., the profound gifts she has received as both a mentee and mentor, and her biggest piece of advice for college students. 

Learn more about ⁠⁠Davalois Fearon & ⁠⁠The Story Project⁠⁠.  

*Note from the episode:

In the episode, Davalois says,”What is an unexpected title you would give yourself that disrupts the hierarchies? AKA, what is your degree from the Making Shit UP University?" This was learned from ⁠Ruha Benjamin⁠, a Princeton Professor, who learned it from ⁠Michelle King⁠, Educator Extraordinare.