Ferdinand (Freddie) DeJesus

“Ferdinand De Jesus – Artistic Director. Founder of in house FrediDance Project Company. Ballet & Contemporary Instructor

Ferdinand De Jesus Mr. De Jesus, is a native Nuyorican,otherwise known as “Freddie,” he began his training at Nannette Bearden Contemporary Dance Theatre in 1987. He then continued his studies on merit scholarships at Alvin AileyAmerican Dance Theatre and later at the Dance Theatre of Harlem in New York City. His extensive professional experience include Donald Byrd/The Group, Florida Dance Theatre, Philadanco, Dayton Contemporary Dance company , and the Bruce Wood dance company . Freddie has trained alongside and worked with many successful professionals throughout his 25 year long career in the art of DANCE. De Jesus has performed many legendary American modern dance masterpieces and has worked with a range of dance pioneers as well as amazing contemporary dance innovators. De Jesus has benefited from working alongside master choreographers such as: Donald Mckayle, Eleo Polmare, Milton Myers, Annabella Gonzales, Nathaniel Trice, Donald Byrd ( tony award nominated choreographer to “The Color Purple” on Broadway), Mia Michaels(of Celine Dion in Vegas and “ So You think you can Dance”),Dwight Rhoden of Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Earl Mosley. Mr. De Jesus has also served as faculty and guest instructor at a variety of Florida Performing Arts Schools , University programs and esteemed dance institutions from throughout the US, Bolivia,Africa and Germany. Freddie has also served as a guest to the Florida Dance Associations Young Dancers Workshop, the Florida Theatre Conference for Musical Theatre and Contemporary Dance workshops, New York’s Dance New Amsterdam (DNA) as well as annually being invited as faculty in Connecticut at the Earl Mosley Institute of the Arts (EMIA)annually. In 2010 Mr De Jesus received honorary mention from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce honoring his commitment to his role of Director of Arts and Culture for the POLK County Puerto Rican Hispanic Chamber of Commerce since 2008 . Ferdinand De Jesus’ contribution to Arts and Culture within his hometown state of New York was recognized when he was commissioned to create an original work at El Museo Del Barrio in Spanish Harlem NYC in the Summer of 2010 and consistently re- invited in August 2012, to present a Contemporary dance workshop at PERIDANCE in NYC. De Jesus embarked on a new career path in 2011 as the FREDIDANCE PROJECT, Artistic Director and Founder. Mr. De Jesus served as the Associate Director and Resident Choreographer of Florida Dance Theatre until 2015. De Jesus has dedicated his career to creating and fostering the development of dancers of all ages and backgrounds through the newly opened ULTIMATE DANCE CENTER , while maintaining his personal commitment to providing DANCE as a living art form to the world .”