BRENDAN DRAKE
Email: brendandrakechoreography@gmail.com
Instagram: @brendandrakechoreography
EDUCATION
University of California, Los Angeles, CA
MFA Choreographic Inquiry, June 2023
Studied with Ann Carlson, Miguel Gutierrez, Susan Foster, Dan Froot, Victoria Marks, David Rousseve, and Peter Sellars.
Special Research Projects with David Gere and Julie Tolentino
Capstone Thesis: Heartbreak Feels Good in a Place Like This: Tracking Queer Intimacy in Contemporary Dance and Performance
Thesis Committee: Susan Foster, Miguel Gutierrez, and David Rousseve
University of Massachusetts, Amherst MA
BFA Dance, May 2009
Studied with Jim Coleman, Mark Davis, Paul Dennis, Terese Freedman, Adrienne Hawkins, Cathay Nicoli, Thomas Vacanti, and Wendy Woodson
Performed repertory work by George Faison, Jose Limon, Randy James, and Doug Varone.
College Summer study with Chuck Davis, John Jasperse, Daniel Nagrin, David Parsons, Risa Steinberg, Dan Wagoner, and Abdel Salam.
Kane School for Core Integration, New York, NY
Pilates Mat and Apparatus Certification, July 2016
Continuing Education Courses
Moving with Scoliosis Workshop with Kuan Chew and Kelly Kane (Winter 2024)
Recent Movement Research Summer Melt Workshops (2019, 2023) with Tere O’Connor, Neal Greenberg, Yvonne Meier, and Keith Hennessey
Autobiographical Writing with Magda San Milan (Summer 2020)
RECENT PRESENTED PERFORMANCE WORKS
2023 Ghost Porn
UCLA Glorya Kaufman Dance Theater. Los Angeles, CA
Fowler Museum. Los Angeles, CA
Movement Research at Judson Church. New York, NY
2024
Brick Theater New Works Festival. Brooklyn, NY
2025
Kestrels. Brooklyn, NY
2022 Melancholia… Solo Version
UCLA Glorya Kaufman Hall. Los Angeles, CA
Jr High Gallery. Los Angeles, CA
2021 Retro Spectre
Chez Bushwick. Brooklyn, NY
The Brick Theater. Brooklyn, NY
Protomedia Past/Future Digital Performance Festival
2022
PAGEANT. Brooklyn, NY
2020 Spare Room
19 Acts of Covid-19 Bravery Digital Festival
2021
Dance Now NYC 25th Anniversary Digital Festival
2019 Community Exercises for Sanctuary Spaces
Danspace Project. New York, NY
Dance Complex. Boston, MA
2020
Exponential Performance Festival. Chez Bushwick. Brooklyn, NY
Brick Theater. Brooklyn, NY
Movement Research at Judson Church. New York, NY (Canceled due to COVID-19)
Tisch School for the Arts. New York, NY(Canceled due to COVID-19)
2018 Insomniac
New York Live Arts Fresh Tracks Residency Showing. New York Live Arts. New York, NY
No Theme Performance Festival. Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center. Poughkeepsie, NY
Dixon Place. New York, NY
2019
Pioneers Go East Collective Crossroads Series at Judson Memorial Church. New York, NY
2017 This is Desire, Parts I, and II
Dance Now Festival 2017 at Joe’s Pub. New York, NY
2018
Brooklyn Studios For Dance. Brooklyn, NY
Dance Now Festival 2018 at Joe’s Pub. New York, NY
2017 Duet
Abrons Arts Center. New York, NY
2016 The Big Finish
Triskelion Arts. Brooklyn, NY
2017
Fresh Tracks Series. New York Live Arts. New York, NY
La MaMa Experimental Theater. New York, NY
CRAWL Artist Series. Industry City Distillery. Brooklyn, NY
2015 Rope
HERE. New York, NY
Gowanus Loft. Brooklyn, NY
2016
The Tank. New York, NY
The Wild Project Theater. New York, NY
2014 Mapping
Wild Project Theater. New York. NY
2013 Everything and 37 Gestures for Anna Pavlova
Skull Space. New Orleans, LA
440 Gallery. New York, NY
Triskelion Arts. Brooklyn, NY
2014
Dixon Place
CHOREOGRAPHIC COMMISSIONS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS
Theatrical Work
2026 The George Washington University/Corcoran School of the Arts and Design. Washington, DC
Room of Compartments. Choreographer
2025 The George Washington University/Corcoran School of the Arts and Design. Washington, DC
Ceremonials. Choreographer
2024 School For Contemporary Dance and Thought/Hatchery Performance Group. Northampton, MA
Exhausting Love. Choreographer
2021 Smiling Hogshead Ranch. Queens, NY
Cory and Smins Love Conquers the Earth. Choreographer (Director: Charles Quittner)
2015 University of Massachusetts. Amherst, MA
Duke Ellington's “Nutcracker.” Choreographer
Fashion and Commercial Work
2024 Untitled (Sleaze). Photographer Ian Lewandowski. Movement Director and Performer
2018 The Water Dancer by Justin Von Oldershausen. Movement Director
2018 Vogue Turkey. Movement Director for March 2018 Cover shoot (Photographer: Liz Collins)
2014, 2016 Elle Magazine. Movement Director for Editorial Spreads (Photographer: Liz Collins)
2015 Mirella. Movement Coach for Winter and Summer video campaigns (Director: Ryan McGinley)
2015 Dazed Magazine. Movement Coach for Lorde (Photographer: Ryan McGinley)
2015 Another Magazine. Movement Direction for Fall print issue and video feature (Director: Collier Schorr)
2015 Kate Spade. Choreographer for “Walking on Air” Perfume Campaign (Director: Ryan McGinley)
2015 Porter Magazine. Movement Coach for Cate Blanchett (Photographer: Ryan McGinley)
2014 Adidas. Choreographer for “Equality = Love” Campaign (Director: Ryan McGinley)
2014 Hermes. Choreographer for Haute Bijouterie Collection (Director: Roe Etheridge)
Curation
2020 19 Acts of COVID-19 Bravery Digital Performance Series
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
The George Washington University. Washington, DC
Modern Dance and Embodied Anatomy (beginner through Advanced levels). Fall 2024-Spring 2026
Dance Composition, Undergraduate Level, Fall 2024
Dance History, Undergraduate Level, Fall 2024
Queer Aesthetics in Dance and Performance, Upper-Level Undergraduate/Graduate, Spring 2025
Improvisation, Upper-Level Undergraduate, Spring 2025
Choreography and Performance, Upper-Level Undergraduate, Fall 2025
Trends in Performance Art, Lower Level Undergraduate, Spring 2026
University of California. Los Angeles, CA
Beginning Modern Dance, Instructor, Undergraduate Level, Winter 2023
Global Perspectives on Dance, Teaching Assistant, Undergraduate Level, Fall 2022
Taking Action: Arts Practice and Community Service, Instructor, Undergraduate Level, Spring 2022 and 2023
Performing Sexual Health: UCLA Sex Squad, Teaching Assistant, Undergraduate Level, Winter 2022 and 2023
Skewl
Process class facilitator and creative consultant, May 2020- June 2024
Fort Pilates
Pilates Mat and Apparatus, Senior Instructor, September 2017 - August 2024
SoundMovement Pilates and Gyrotonic
Pilates Mat And Apparatus, Senior Instructor, November 2015 - September 2019
Brooklyn Studios for Dance
Contemporary Dance Forms and Methods, Instructor, Fall 2016 - Spring 2018
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Led weekly classes in Contemporary Dance, Improvisation, and Body Conditioning.
AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2026 DC Dance Network Choreographers Commission
2025 Emergency Grant Recipient, Foundation for Contemporary Arts
2024 Monira Foundation Fellowship
2022 Clifton Webb Scholarship of the Arts Award
2022 Forti Foundation Endowed Scholarship Award for Excellence in Dance Improvisation
2022 Jean Irwin Dance Scholarship
2022 Elaine Krown Klein Fine Arts Scholarship
2021 UCLA Graduate Division Fellowship
2021 Chez Bushwick Artist in Residence
2020 Brooklyn Arts Fund Recipient, Brooklyn Arts Council.
2019 Emergency Grant Recipient, Foundation for Contemporary Arts.
2019 Fall Artist in Residence, The Floor on Atlantic.
2019 Silo Barn Artist in Residence, Dance Now Boston.
2018 Dance Now Challenge Winner and Grant Recipient
2017-2018 Fresh Tracks Fellow. New York Live Arts (Formerly Dance Theater workshop)
2017-2018 Artist in Residence, Brooklyn Studios for Dance
2016 Tank Fellow, The Tank NYC
2015 CUNY Dance Initiative Resident Artist, Baruch College Performing Arts Center
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS, LECTURES, AND MASTER CLASSES
June 2025 George Washington University, Washington, DC.
Dance Studies Association International Conference
Presenting a lecture/performance on Queer Respectability Politics in Dance Academia as part of the DSA 2025 International conference.
January 2024 University of California, Los Angeles
Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance
Led a workshop for undergraduate students on devising an education intervention-based performance
November 2023 University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Department of Music and Dance
Led Workshop on improvisation with senior Dance Majors
May 2023 University of California, Los Angeles
Department of LGBTQ Studies
Heartbreak Feels Good in a Place Like This: Analyzing Power Dynamics in Queer Social Spaces
Presentation and panel discussion as part of the 2023 Queer Graduate Conference
April 2023 University of California, Los Angeles
Department of Design Media Arts
Led Workshop on body language, posture, and creating an effective and dynamic job talk for MFA candidates in the Design Media Arts Department
April 2023 New York Film Academy
Series of Workshops with Students, Faculty, and Staff on creating dynamic sexual health education for undergraduate students.
January-February 2023 Los Angeles Unified School District and UCLA Center for Art and Global Health
Project U
Co-created and led a series of workshops for LA County high school students on devising performance works that address issues of sexual health, identity, and consent.
May 2022 University of California, Los Angeles
Department of World Arts and Cultures
“Demon Twinks, Gay Ghosts and Growing Libidos: Tracking Queer Temporality in Contemporary Dance and Performance.”
Lecture/performance as part of the “Chew On This” Graduate Research Series
April 2022 University of California, Los Angeles
Department of LGBTQ Studies
“Queer Time through Choreography and Sound Design” Invited talk delivered to undergraduate and graduate Queer Sonics and Soundscapes Seminar.
March 2022 University of California, Los Angeles
Prison Education Program
Led Movement, and Improvisation Workshop as part of the UCLA PEP Prison Educators Orientation.
Summer-Fall 2021 Dancing Queerly Festival/Free Skewl
“Scoring Anxiety.” Invited virtual master classes in collaboration with the Dancing Queerly Festival in Boston, MA.
April 2021 Columbia University
Department of Music
“Music and Dance Collaboration” Invited talk delivered to undergraduate and graduate music composition seminars.
October-November 2023 Skewl
“Reading the Room: Scoring Power Dynamics” Workshop on Choreographic Score building
November 2020 University of Massachusetts
Department of Music and Dance
“Dancing Beyond College” Invited virtual guest lecture delivered to senior dance majors.
April 2020 Ball State University
Department of Dance
“Freelancing as a Choreographer” Invited virtual talk delivered to undergraduates.
January 2020 Muhlenberg College. Allentown, PA
Department of Theater and Dance
Contemporary Dance Master class for undergraduates.
January 2020 DeSales University. Center Valley, PA
Department of Dance
Contemporary Dance Master class for undergraduates.
April 2017 University of Massachusetts. Amherst, MA
Department of Music and Dance
Improvisation Workshop for undergraduate dance majors.
SELECTED REVIEWS AND MEDIA
Theo Armstrong. “Ghost Porn, By Brendan Drake.” Brooklyn Rail. March 2025
Miya Shaffer. “Ghost Porn, By Brendan Drake.” Culturebot. February 13th, 2025
Londs Rueter. “Working Through a Problem That I Make: A Conversation Between Nic Chilvers and Brendan Drake.” Movement Research/Critical Correspondence. October 11th, 2023
Ryan Andrews. Why Are You Like This? “ ‘The Queer with the Dangly Earring’ with Brendan Drake.” Released July 2021. Podcast.
Courtney Escoyne. “6 of Our Favorite Digital Dance Projects to Come Out of Quarantine.” Dance Magazine. August 6th, 2020
Trina Manino. “An Invitation into the Process of Making Dance: Draftwork at Danspace featuring Brendan Drake and Marion Spencer.” Dance Enthusiast. April 11th, 2019
Trina Mannino. Impressions: Brendan Drake’s ‘This is Desire’ at Brooklyn Studios for Dance.” Dance Enthusiast. March 24th, 2018
Kate Ladenheim. “Perceptions: Brendan Drake’s ‘ROPE’.” Conectom by Leimay. September 29th, 2015
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND AFFILIATIONS
2024 Dance Studies Association
Member
2024 George Washington University Corcoran School of Arts and Design
Student Choreography Concert Adjudicator/Advisor
Advisor for Callie Cahampoux’s Fashion and Form Senior Thesis Project, Corcoran School of the Arts and Design NEXT Festival
Advisor for Haley Ferguson’s The Need to Feel Desired: Reclaiming Erotic Dance Senior Thesis Project
Advisor for Sadie Tuckers Navigating the Stage of Exhaustion: Navigating Burnout in Professional and College Dancers and its Impact on Performance and Well-Being Senior Thesis Project
2023-2024 Skewl
Artistic Advisor
2021-2023 UCLA Graduate Student Organization
Graduate Student Officer
2020-2023 UCLA Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance
Graduate Liason for ladder faculty meetings
Department Union Steward
Graduate Representative for new faculty hiring
2019-2021 DanceNow NYC
Artist Advisory Board Member
2017-2019 Brooklyn Studios for Dance
Board Member
2016-2017 Dance NYC
Junior Committee member