Loni Landon, born and raised in New York City, received her training from the NYC High School of Performing Arts, Dance Theater of Harlem, The School at Jacob’s Pillow and The Scholarship Program at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Before entering Juilliard, Loni was a NFAA Young Arts Finalist. In 2005, under the direction of the late Benjamin Harkary and Larry Rhodes, she received her BFA in dance from The Juilliard School. After graduation, she worked with Aszure Barton on the opening of the Baryshnikov Arts Center before joining Ballet Theater Munich, under the direction of Phillip Taylor, under who’s guidance she began to explore her own choreography, until 2007. From 2007-2009 she performed with Tanz Theater Munich, under the direction of Henning Paar. During her time in Munich, she was exposed to a variety of European choreographers: Jiri Kylian, Stephan Thoss, Rui Horta, Robert North, Tony Rizzi, Cayetano Soto, Mirko Hektor, and Marco Goecke to name a few. She currently dances at The Metropolitan Opera, working with Crystal Pite, Itzik Galili and Ben Wright. Her work has been shown at The Joyce Theater as part of Working Women, Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out series, APAP at City Center, The Ailey Theater , Dance Now at Joe’s Pub, HT CHEN’S NewSteps Choreography Series, The Dumbo Dance Festival, and The State Theater of Munich. She has also been a finalist in the Hannover International Choreographers Festival and to represent the US in the International Solo Tanz Theater Competition in Stuttgart, Germany.Most recently, Loni is a recipient of the 2013 Princess Grace Choreography Fellowship, nominated by BODYTRAFFIC. Upcoming commissions include, AMP Project in association with Ben Levy Dance San Francisco, Whim Whim Seattle, and Juilliard New Dances 2014. Loni was the winner of Hubbard Street 2 International Choreographic Competition as well as the 1st place winner in Ballet Austin’s New American Talent Competition. She was also chosen by Northwest Dance Project’s for their Pretty Creatives'” Choreography Competition, and the “Next” commission from CityDance Ensemble, in Washington DC. She has created works for Northwest Dance Project, Ballet X, The NYC High School for Performing Arts, The Hartt School, The Juilliard School, Marymount Manhattan College, and SUNY Purchase. Loni Landon was a participant in the 2012 Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation New Directions Choreography Lab made possible through the generous support of the FordFoundation and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Loni, along with Gregory Dolbashian, founded “THE PLAYGROUND”. The Playground is a new choreographer’s initiative designed to give emerging choreographers a place to experiment, while allowing professional dancers to participate on a donation basis.
The Playground was recognized by Dance Magazine as a 25 To Watch for 2013.
Photos By Foster Mickley and Whitney Browne.