Jamel Gaines

Jamel Gaines has dedicated his life to delivering artistic excellence and stirring, soaring performances to audiences around the world. A choreographer, teacher, and mentor with more than 22 years of experience, he has built Creative Outlet into a highly acclaimed performing arts organization with a proven record of training the next generation of professional dancers and artists.

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Mr. Gaines began his dance training under Diane and Adrian Brown and James Grant. After earning his BFA from SUNY Purchase, he joined the renowned JUBILATION! Dance Company, where he performed for more than 15 years. He credits Kevin Iega Jeff with shaping his distinctive and nurturing approach to teaching and choreography.

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His choreography has reached national audiences on So You Think You Can Dance (2010) and in the live-streamed performance at Spike Lee’s Annual Tribute Concert to Michael Jackson (2017). He has created and staged more than 25 repertory and concert productions and has collaborated with legendary artists including Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Holliday, Savion Glover, Malik Yoba, George Faison, Ornette Coleman, Ossie Davis, Babatunde Olatunji, Max Roach, Cassandra Wilson, and Rick James. Internationally, he has taught and choreographed in Jamaica, Guadeloupe, Spain, Germany, Canada, Italy, Portugal, and London.

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Mr. Gaines received the Teacher Recognition Award from the Presidential Scholars in the Arts Committee at The Kennedy Center, presented on Public Television’s American Talent. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Essence, The Seattle Times, and the Daily News, and staged by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, The Martha Graham School, the Paramount Theatre, Actors Theater Workshop, and the NYC Department of Parks.

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He also directs St. Paul’s Eldad Medad Dance Ministry, which seeks a spiritual path through movement. His work there includes He Got Up, a commemoration of the African Holocaust, and the acclaimed Black Nativity, for which he won an Obie Award.