Biography

Gentry Isaiah George is a choreographer, educator, and performer whose work explores history, identity, and music through dance. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, he trained at New World School of the Arts before earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts from The Juilliard School. His professional performance career includes work with Ailey II and Dance Theatre of Harlem.

George joined Howard University as Lecturer of Dance in Fall 2026. His teaching practice is informed by his experience in ballet, modern dance, choreography, and performance. Before joining Howard, he served on the dance faculty at New World School of the Arts and the American Musical & Dramatic Academy. 

In 2013, George founded Zest Collective, a multidisciplinary dance company that brings together movement, music, and visual art. Through the company, he has created works centered on cultural memory, historical figures, and the musical traditions of the African diaspora and the Americas.

In 2022, he developed Roots & Rhythms, an educational dance initiative that brings performances, masterclasses, and conversations to schools and community spaces. The program connects dance with cultural history and introduces young audiences to a range of Black musical artists.

George’s choreography has been presented by organizations and venues including Miami Light Project, Miami Theater Center, Hued Songs, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, and the Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center. In 2023, Miami Light Project commissioned Afro Blue for the Here & Now festival. 

His work The Fountain, commissioned by the Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center, draws from Negro spirituals and operatic music. In February 2026, Zest Collective presented Roots of Jazz: Icons in Motion at the Pinecrest Gardens Banyan Bowl as part of its Dance in the Gardens series.

George was also an AIRIE Fellow, where his research in the Everglades informed creative explorations connecting environment and movement.

Across his work as an artist and educator, George is committed to creating meaningful opportunities for dancers and audiences to engage with dance as a form of storytelling and joyful expression.