Dyane Harvey-Salaam

Dyane has performed with numerous companies including Tony Award Winning George Faison’s Universal Dance Experience, Dunham dancer Walter Nicks’ Dance Theatre, Otis Sallid’s New Art Ensemble, Nanette Bearden’s Contemporary Chamber Dance Company, Joan Miller’s Dance Players, internationally recognized Dance Brazil and the Trinidad/Tobago Repertory Dance Theatre. She was hailed a “New York City Dance Diva” by Dr. Glory Van Scott in her series of tributes to Black female dancers at the Schomberg Center for Research Library.

She has choreographed the following for the theatre community: “Love’s Fire” for The Acting Company, “Yerma” and “The African Company Presents Richard the Third” (director Reggie Montgomery) for NYU’s Graduate Acting Program and Ramapo College, “Lavender Lizards, Lilac Landmines, Layla’s Dream” for the University of Florida at Gainesville and at the Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (writer Ntozake Shange- director Dr. Mikell Pinkney), “Harriet Returns” for The Acting Company (director Shona Tucker),  “Iced Out Shackled and Chained, Still in Search of the North Star”, (for National Black Theatre and Blackberry Productions at the National Black Theatre Festival) and numerous others.

Her theater, film and television credits include: “Free to Dance” (PBS Special), “The Wiz” (Broadway and film), and “Timbuktu!” “Spell #7”, “Ailey Celebrates Ellington”(CBS Special). She also appeared in the Paris Company of “Your Arms Too Short To Box With God” at the Mogador Theatre. For the McCarter Theatre’s Education Department, she served as choreographer for the audience interactive musical play based on the life of Sundjata Kamaleyna, the true lion king of Mali (written and directed by Chris Parker)

She was Director of the Dance Department at Stephen’s College during the mandatory Summer Dance Institute, offering eclectic programming and unusual dance exposure. As professor at both Princeton and Hofstra Universities she also choreographs and has introduced two courses, one a Pilates Lab which supports the physical and mental connections that people (and specifically dancers) need reinforced to handle daily challenges; and the other, “The American Experience and Africanist Dance Practices” which examines the contribution of Africanist movement principles to American culture with overwhelming student popularity. In both of these institutions she has served beyond the call of duty, often serving as the faculty advisor to students on independent study projects, junior and senior practicums, as well as providing dance-theatre experiences outside of the institution, which in some instances have lead some to their ideal career choices and professions.

Dyane’s studies of the Pilates system of exercise began in the early 1970’s with Judith Covan-Newfeld as therapy for a knee injury. As the healing ensued, Dyane realized the true value of this system and began teaching what she learned to friends and colleagues. In 2000 she earned her teaching certification from Romana Krysanowska, of the Pilates Institute. One of the most enjoyable aspects of her life is the sharing of this wonderful storehouse of knowledge through community classes as well as private apparatus sessions  under her creation, “Ma’at Pilates”, a Pilates system designed for injury prevention, strength and flexibility maintenance for the dancer, non-dancer and serious athlete .

Harvey earned the Dance for Life Award (from Better Family Life, a cultural, financial and social empowerment organization based in St. Louis, Missouri), the AUDELCO Award for best actress in a musical (Dunbar) and choreography (The Great Men of Gospel), the Monarch Merit Award, The Ira Aldridge Black Theatre Award for contributions to the theatre community, the Goddesses and Gurus Award, and “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” an award given by the Hempstead African American Museum.