Damien Patterson Oral History

Interview with Damien Patterson conducted by Julia Wilkinson Manley. Damien Patterson began his career with The Arena Players Youth Theatre program and went on to train in dance at the Baltimore School for the Arts. He joined Ballet Memphis where he performed works by Trey McIntyre, Garett Ammon, Lila York, Mark Godden, and Rennie Harris and also choreographed for the company.  After six seasons, Patterson returned home where he taught and coached throughout the city and counties of Baltimore and continued performing. He set works for George Washington Carver Center for the Arts and Technology's dance department and also guested with Towson University's dance company. In 2008, after attending the International Association of Black in Dance conference, Patterson was invited to join Cleo Parker Robinson Dance where he performed principal roles by Alvin Ailey, Katherine Dunham, Donald McKayle, and Christopher Huggins. In 2009, Patterson joined Ballet Nouveau Colorado which in 2013 became the company Wonderbound. As a founding member of Wonderbound, his skills in writing poetry, improvising, and acting along with his musicality and comedic timing helped him create his most notable roles with the company.