Hailed in reviews as “a perfect example of his generation of male dancers… Technically superb and artistically infallible,” Iquail Shaheed has enjoyed a career that personifies artistic versatility. He is a multidimensional artist whose work successfully ranges through high caliber performance, teaching, choreography, and direction. Ignited by his passion as to use his art as activism, Shaheed is founder and executive artistic director of the Philadelphia-based company DANCE IQUAIL through which he creates new works and programs that centers on social justice.
As a professional dancer, Shaheed has worked with internationally acclaimed companies such as Compagnie Thor (Brussels), Sean Curran Company, Ronald K Brown/ Evidence, and the Fred Benjamin Dance Company. He has also appeared in various Broadway productions including The Lion King, Hot Feet, and Super Fly, in addition to credits in Motion Pictures, Television and Print.
As a teacher, Shaheed is driven by his passion and commitment to preserving the Horton Technique. Currently Shaheed serves on faculty at The Ailey School, NAISDA Dance College in Australia, while concurrently serving as assistant professor of dance at Goucher College. Additionally, he is frequently engaged as master teacher at institutions throughout Europe, Africa, Australia North America, and the Caribbean.
Among his many honors are grants from the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Samuel S. Fels Foundation, the West Harlem Development Corporation. He is also the recipient of The Caroline H. Newhouse Award, the Suzanne and Larry Engman Award, Philadelphia Dance Award – The Rocky, and the Marion D. Cuyjet Award.
Shaheed received his training as a scholarship student at many prestigious schools including the Philadelphia Dance Company – Philadanco, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, The Martha Graham Center for Contemporary Dance, the Paul Taylor School, The Juilliard School, Jacob’s Pillow, and Pennsylvania Ballet, among many others. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in ballet performance from the University of the Arts, a Master of Fine Arts degree in Choreography from Purchase College – SUNY, and is a Doctor of Philosophy candidate at Texas Woman’s University.
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