Meet Quentin
Choreographer & Dancer
Quentin ApolloVaughn Sledge, born in Chicago, Illinois, began his training with Mr. Homer Bryant, formerly of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, in 2009. He attended Morehouse College from 2010-2014 and earned a degree in Business Administration. In Atlanta he began commercial dance with Daryl Foster, Cici Kelley, Juel Lane and Stephan Wilson all while training for a concert career. He joined the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company in 2014 and has worked with Mr. Donald McKayle, Francesca Harper, Donald Byrd, Ray Mercer, Ron K. Brown and many more. The Joyce Theatre, New York City’s Lincoln Center, and the Bolshoi Theatre are but a few of the venues he has preformed in. In 2016, he was a soloist in the revival of Donald McKayle's "Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder" which was awarded a Bessie. He is also a certified teacher of the Lester Horton, Talawa African, and the Umfundalai dance techniques. This is Quentin’s fifth season with Dayton Dance Initiative.
Get to know Quentin!
How do you break barriers in your dancing? By approaching every style of dance from an Africana perspective. My movement is deeply influenced by undulation, spinal fluidity, sensuality, and groundedness.
What brings you back to DDI each season? The fresh/current approach to choreography and freedom of creativity is what keeps me coming back to DDI each year. I spend much of my time during the year learning classics; it is nice to do things that are more current.
“One word to describe myself: Compassionate.”
How does the city of Dayton influence your art? Dayton has a thriving arts scene which I take inspiration from often. Its beautiful parks and scenery often inspire me to write and create. I’m also deeply insured by the artists that I work with. Watching them grow always challenges me to keep moving the needle forward.
What are your passions outside of dance? I am a multimedia artist. I write, choreograph, paint, draw, and sculpt. I’m generally passionate about creation and expression.
The one thing you never knew you needed to know until you were a professional dancer? I never knew the importance of dance from a culturally relevant place until I became a dancer. My journey in dance has been one of decolonizing my perceptions of art, movement, and ultimately my body. Learning the importance of dance as an African descendant has been truly eye-opening for me. It has given me a deep appreciation for my craft.
How does Quentin the dancer inspire Quentin the person? I would say that Quentin the person influences Quentin the dancer more than the other way around because I am an intellectual by nature. I’m constantly studying something new, deepening my knowledge of culture, dance, food, health, spirituality and all of that knowledge pours out of me through movement.