Julie Coleman - Bio

Mrs. Julie Coleman began dancing at the age of three in London, England.  In 1968, her family moved to the United States, which enabled her the opportunity to continue her dance training.

In 1973, Mrs. Coleman was enrolled in classes at Dance Theater of Harlem,where she was chosen to become a part of the Junior Company under the direction of Karel Shook, co-founder and Ballet Master. It was during that time that she took her first step to becoming a “prima ballerina” and began taking Pointe lessons. It was also through Dance Theatre of Harlem that Mrs. Coleman was officially introduced to the world of African and Caribbean dance.

She became a member of Marie Brooks’ World Dance Troupe in 1973. Mrs. Brooks brought teachers from all over the world to train her handpicked performing company which specialized in West African and Caribbean Folkloric Dance.

In 1974, Mrs. Coleman began her first tour as a part of the Marie Brooks Dance Company, whose focus was to explore the cultures of the Caribbean through dance. During the tour, they traveled annually to countries such as Martinique, Trinidad, Haiti, Jamaica, Surinam and Guyana performing and taking workshops from master instructors.

In 1975 she auditioned and was selected to be part of the Performing Arts High School (PA) Dance Program, in Manhattan, NY. While there, she studied ballet and modern with major concentration in ballet. During her time at PA, she started her first amateur dance company. Utilizing her classical training, she began to add urban dance techniques, such as Break Dancing and the Hustle, to her repertoire which created yet another opportunity to grow as not only a dancer but as a choreographer.

For years she continued her dance training through various schools including Ailey, Puerto Rican Dance Theater and Gloria Jackson Studio, among others. Since 1972, Mrs. Coleman has also studied with various instructors, directors, and mentors from “World-Renown Artistic Performers” such as West African Dance teacher Reginald Yates, Chuck Davis and Arthur Mitchell, founders of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, character actor, choreographer, dancer, designer, singer and voice-over artist Geoffrey Holder, Pearl Primus, the “Matriarch of Black Dance” Katherine Dunham, world-famous Guinean Master Dancer Moustafa Bangoura, Master Drummer, composer, and choreographer Malik Sow, Atillah Kadijah Wilson, choreographer Malang Bayo, Marie Basse-Wiles and Pepsi Bethel.

In 1988, she became a Substitute Teacher for the Orange County Public School System where she provided substitute teaching services for elementary through high school grade levels. In the elementary schools she taught all subjects including art, music and physical education. In the middle schools, she taught math and science to grades 6-8.

In 1998, Julie accepted the position of dance teacher and coordinator for the Rio Grande Charter School of Excellence in Orlando, Florida, where she taught ballet and African dance to grades K – 4. She also developed, implemented and taught workshops, demonstrations seminars and training courses for the students and constructed age appropriate lesson plans. Mrs. Coleman’s other responsibilities involved reporting grades and developing year-end performances and costume designs.

In 1999, Mrs. Coleman traveled to West Africa with friend and mentor, Chuck Davis, where she studied the culture and practices of the people. During her stay, she learned indigenous dances and drum rhythms as well as how to prepare the national meal. Mrs. Coleman also received Rites of Passage training in order to be able to properly relay the customs and traditions of the native people back to the United States to teach to youth in the community.

In the year 2000, she traveled to Ga Rankua, South Africa where she conducted workshops at the primary and secondary schools and established a cultural exchange and pen pal program with students between the U.S. and South Africa. She also provided dance training to school teachers, teaching them how to effectively incorporate the arts with academics.

Throughout the years, Mrs. Coleman not only developed her artistic side, but her business and entrepreneurial talents as well, with careers in fashion design, merchandising and insurance brokering. She founded The Orlando School of Cultural Dance in 1989. During her 18 year tenure, she has produced the “Cultural Dance Extravaganza,” an annual event showcasing a variety of dance styles as well as international performing artists including Malik Sow, Malang Bayo, Moustafa Bangoura, Mor Thiam, Kasa Panzu, Amadou Ngoma, Djian Tie and Jonathon Parks. Her company has also toured as far as Taiwan and Jamaica.

Aside from her responsibilities as founder, Mrs. Coleman is also actively involved in set and lighting design, costume design and overall marketing and public relations for the school. Her experiences have taken her into the television Sheena and motion picture industry Rosewood where she has done choreography, costume designs, performing and artistic consulting for Nickelodeon’s “Gullah Gullah Island,” “Sheena” and the John Singleton directed movie “Rosewood.”

Mrs. Coleman received an acclamation from Congressional Leader Corinne Brown, and has been honored with several Awards and commendations from her office. Her other recognitions include grants and awards such as the Onyx Humanitarian Award, partnerships with the City of Orlando, Orange County Parks and Recreation Award and a letter of support from Orange County Commissioner Homer Hartage. Currently Mrs. Coleman is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Central Florida, teaching African dance.

Most Recent Awards: Humanitarian Award (Orange county, 2006), Onyx Award (onyx magazine, 2005), United African Committee Award (2005), Hometown Hero Award (star 94.5 radio, 1999), Orlando Magic Youth Foundation (1999), Commendation (Congresswoman Corrine Brown, 2000), City of Orlando - Declaration - June 10, 2007 "Orlando School of Cultural Dance", Director of O.S.C.D Foundation, A "Project of Congressional District-Program Inc."