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OUR HISTORY
Founded in 1994 by executive artistic director and Brooklyn native, Jamel Gaines, Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet (JGCO) has been a transformative force in cultural arts and dance programming in Downtown Brooklyn since its inception. JGCO was born out of Gaines' desire to give back to the community that helped shape him, while addressing a gap in his own education about Black History and stories that have been silenced in mainstream media. Our mission is to offer high-quality programming to the most marginalized communities in New York City.
For the past 30 years, JGCO has dedicated itself to uplifting underserved communities through the expressive power of dance and integrated art forms. Under the visionary leadership of Jamel Gaines, our organization has become a beacon of artistic excellence and community engagement, offering professional dance training and cultural education to marginalized communities across all five boroughs of New York City. Our top priority is to create opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds to thrive and reach their full potential, while upholding a safe space for artistic freedom and overall well-being.
National and International Recognition
Over the years, JGCO has garnered national and international acclaim, cementing its reputation as a leader in the New York arts scene. Our company’s innovative choreography and sophisticated dancers have brought our powerful performances to the stage in some of the city’s most iconic venues, and we continue to push the boundaries of artistic expression. We are proud of our longstanding partnership with the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), as well as our performances at renowned venues such as Lincoln Center, City Center, Carnegie Hall, The Apollo Theater, and Central Park SummerStage.
More recently, we had the honor of performing at the National Dance Theatre of Ghana as part of a two-city tour from Cape Coast to Accra, serving as cultural ambassadors for the United States, New York City, and Brooklyn. This international engagement underscored our commitment to fostering global connections through the power of dance.
Our Co-Founders
In 1994, Kevin Joseph and Lakai Worrell played a pivotal role in laying the foundation for what would become Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet. As artists, educators, and visionaries, their contributions helped shape the company’s artistic identity and commitment to community engagement.
Kevin Johnson
A Brooklyn native with Trinidadian and Tobagonian roots, Kevin Joseph discovered dance at age 10 on the streets of East New York during Hip Hop’s formative years. His formal training began at Borough of Manhattan Community College under Dyane Harvey and continued at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and Dance New Amsterdam.
Kevin’s performance career spans prestigious stages, including The Essence Awards, VH1 Divas Live, PBS's Black Dance in the 20th Century, and The Oedipus Plays in Greece with Avery Brooks and Earl Hyman. His choreography, blending Modern, Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and African dance, reflects his breakdancing roots and has been featured at Jacob’s Pillow, Lincoln Center Outdoors, Celebrate Brooklyn, and the American Black Film Festival.
Over the years, Kevin has collaborated with renowned artists such as Lauryn Hill, Anthony Hamilton, Otis Sallid, Abdel Salaam, and George Faison. As a co-founder of Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn, he played a key role as managing director, principal dancer, and education director, shaping the company’s Arts-in-Education program. His dedication to the arts has been recognized with the Black Men of Distinction Award from Marty Markowitz.
Kevin later co-founded Purelements: An Evolution in Dance with childhood friend Lakai Worrell, where he serves as co-executive artistic director. The organization encompasses a professional dance company, a performing arts school, and an educational outreach program, continuing his mission of artistic excellence and community empowerment.
Lakai Worrell
Lakai Worrell, a New York native, is an award-winning choreographer, director, and filmmaker whose dance career began as a hip-hop artist. He has trained with esteemed choreographers and collaborated with artists across multiple disciplines, expanding his reach in both theater and film.
His work has been recognized with the Torch Bearer Award for the Advancement of Black Theater, the Teacher Recognition Award from the National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts (NFAA), and the Black Men of Distinction Award.
Lakai’s choreography has been showcased at Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Classical Theatre of Harlem’s Summer Stage, Peridance Center (APAP Conference), Yale, Hofstra, Oberlin Universities, the Kings Theatre, and internationally at The Campion School in Athens, Greece, and the Orchestra Sinfonica Juvenil de El Salvador. He is also known for his work on The Maafa Suite: A Healing Journey, a powerful theatrical experience rooted in African and African-American history.
Through their artistic leadership, Kevin, Lakai and Jamel helped shape Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet into a vital force in the dance world, merging innovation with cultural storytelling. Their legacy continues to inspire and empower the next generation of artists and changemakers.