About Hope Boykin

New York, New York

Hope Boykin (CBA ’23), two time “Bessie Award” winner, was an original member of Complexions, danced with Philadanco, and most recently completed her 20th and final year with the Ailey American Dance Theater. Boykin serves as Artistic Advisor for Dance Education for the Kennedy Center and Artistic Lead for the Kennedy Center Dance Lab.

The What, How, and Why of It All
As a creator, choreographer, and writer, Hope Boykin worked and made work with words and life experiences, creating an ongoing and moving memoir of sort and mixing Interdisciplinary forms – film, original text, and her movement-language. Using a vocal and non-vocal soundtrack, pushing boundaries and personal expressions of transparency, uncovering fear and failure within her truth, she decided to uproot her comfort and find a place for her story. Boykin grew to accept all of the intricacies of telling this story and became less afraid to use the aspects of her specific choices and experiences. Along with several company commissions, this work and passion project, built from a history of circumstances, pushed Boykin toward her goals; when she determined to “hope against Hope.”

Gallery

Hope Boykin, a Black woman with short dark hair, has her hands clasped on the sides of her head as she looks to the camera and smiles. She is wearing a chambray shirt, and apple watch, and a silver ring on her pinky finger.

Self Portrait

Hope Boykin, a Black woman with short dark hair, stands in tall, green grass. She is wearing a black and white checkered bottoms and a chambray, long-sleeved top. She is standing to the left of the photo as she faces toward the right with a relaxed expression.

Ron Hill

Hope Boykin headshot in black and white. Hope Boykin is sitting down with her hands in a clasped position near her face. She is wearing a patterned dress and a long, pearl necklace. Hope has short, dark hair and she identifies as a Black woman.

Danica Paulos

Hope Boykin, a Black woman with short dark hair, has her hands clasped on the sides of her head as she looks to the camera and smiles. She is wearing a chambray shirt, and apple watch, and a silver ring on her pinky finger.
Hope Boykin, a Black woman with short dark hair, stands in tall, green grass. She is wearing a black and white checkered bottoms and a chambray, long-sleeved top. She is standing to the left of the photo as she faces toward the right with a relaxed expression.
Hope Boykin headshot in black and white. Hope Boykin is sitting down with her hands in a clasped position near her face. She is wearing a patterned dress and a long, pearl necklace. Hope has short, dark hair and she identifies as a Black woman.