Founder | Director | Choreographer
“Discovering the world of dance at a young age was and is my “saving-grace.” Dance allowed me to navigate cultural landscapes and speak messages familiar to the hearts of humanity. Immediately, I understood the impact of dance (arts)! It infused vision and purpose in me beyond the streets of inner-city Philadelphia; and, for these reasons, my mission is to center community through Arts and cultivate personal experiences of hope, awareness, and social evolution as agents of change in the arts. Today, as an African American Arts Director, Choreographer, and citizen Artist I am “delivering dance back to the People.”
Dance for the People | Dance for the Soul
Vaughn D. Newman, Jr.
was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he began dancing at William Penn Arts Charter. Continuing his formal dance training at Freedom Theater, PHILADANCO (Philadelphia Dance Company), and New World School of the Arts; Vaughn has performed with MOMENTUM DANCE COMPANY and Brazz Dance Theater in Miami, Florida.
Established in 2018, The Studio – Home of Vaughn Newman Dance (VND) opened its’ doors to offer professional dance instruction to Upstate SC. Residing outside of downtown Greenville, The Studio is the home of VND – Greenville’s Premier Contemporary Dance Company.
Vaughn Newman Dance Outreach programs narrow a cultural divide through various arts programs. ADAM (Acting | Dance | Art | Music) Arts, a program designed for under-served youth, allows for an interactive visual and performing arts experience; while ZAKI African Drum & Dance Ensemble bridge traditional folkloric opportunities through West African Drum, Dance, and Culture.
Mr. Newman continues to choreograph and provide dance training for several local dance studios and major productions for local theaters.