EDDIE STOCKTON
bio
Working professionally for over 25 years, Eddie Stockton received his formal training as a student of the (Alvin) Ailey and Martha Graham Schools, and NYC's High School of Performing Arts. During his third year he joined his first dance company,
(NJ)Center Dance Collective. He would later continued his studies at the Acting and Musical Theatre Department's of Alabama State and Howard Universities. His career has since been enriched with the experience of working for several companies and choreographers including George Faison, Kevin Iega Jeff, Philadanco, Dwight Rhoden, DC Shakespeare Theatre, Nathan Trice, Nai-ni Chen, Bill T. Jones, and more. Teaching dance since a teenager, Eddie was a fifteen year instructor at The Ailey School (Jazz & House) and nine year founding member of Brooklyn's Purelements (Modern/Jazz/Ballet). His passion for dance and desire to share information has drawn him across the country and globe doing residencies, workshops, and occasional performances. He's worked in Greece, Poland, France, and makes regular visits to Germany, Italy, and recently Slovenia. He is proud to have twice been invited to sit on the panel at Guadeloupe' Regional Dance Competition and once for 'Expression' National Dance Competition in Florence, Italy. As a choreographer, Eddie's ability to instruct almost any level dancer has allowed him to choreograph in many capacities, for school kids, dance groups, college and off Broadway musicals, and professional dance companies. His most recent contribution was as guest choreographer for 2014’ 5th Annual Stars Of New York Dance. In 2009, along with partner Sarah Collins, Eddie started MIXTape, a choreographer' showcase. The next two years produced three successful MIXTape's before both taking a hiatus to pursue other endeavors. One of those endeavors will be debut of his contemporary dance company, "dance es"”and he development of an international artist exchange. He is grateful to have his passion as his profession and looks forward to continuing to share his choreographic vision, music, and dance all over the world.
The DJ
While growing up in Brooklyn, his mother loved Jazz music and Hip-Hop was on the rise. His close friends, some already DJs, played endless raggae, soca, & calypso rhythms and danced to house, funk, and disco all hours of the night in Manhattan nightclubs. He hung out with the DJs, felt close to the music and rhythms, could feel the flow of tracks. Soon enough he was their selector: pulling out the records for hid DJ friends to play at parties and events. Meanwhile, Eddie was also carving himself a future as a professional dancer and, eventually, ended up teaching at the prestigious Alvin Ailey Dance School. Still, the music was calling him. In 1994 he bought his own turntables and DJ equipment and started playing at dance parties as Eddie S. The Dj Dancer which, he eventually shortened to the moniker DJ DANCER. Influenced by the energy of some of his favorite DJs (Little Louie Vega, Timmy Regisford, Sedric, etc.) and favorite parties (Shelter, Sound Factory Bar, Traxx), mixes were a success. Whether it was a disco-house mix, acid jazz or old school rare funk grooves, Eddie can feel the crowd and play to their soul. He has played at Soulgasm, Sapphire Lounge, Sullivan Room, and currently plays a monthly event at Harlem's Faison Firehouse Theater. As for his dance classes, that's where the DJ-ing and dancing truly meld together. Eddie uses his some of his own house mixes for his jazz and house dance classes as well as composes some his own tracks for his modern dance classes and choreography.