Trajal Harrell (born in 1973 in Douglas, Georgia, USA) is an American choreographer and dancer, known for his unique blend of postmodern dance, voguing, and theatrical elements. Harrell is one of the leading international contemporary choreographers. His distinctive style incorporates elements from various dance traditions, fashion, music, and visual art. With universal human emotions and themes such as connection, tragedy, tenderness, and vulnerability, Harrell's performances often resonate with the audience on a deeply personal level.
He explores the intersection of high and low culture, gender, identity, and the history of performance. In his recent work, Harrell intertwines theoretical elements of voguing with movements and ideas from early modern dance and butoh, a post-war Japanese minimalist and engaged dance form developed in the late 1950s by Japanese dancer and choreographer Tatsumi Hijikata (1928-1996). Harrell’s work examines the intersections between these seemingly disparate dance cultures, with the body as a central carrier of memory, the past, and the historical influences shaping his dance practice.
Harrell’s work is presented worldwide, including at the Festival d’Avignon, MoMA, and Schauspielhaus Zürich. Harrell will be an Associate Artist at the Holland Festival in 2025.
Ammodo supported the work of Trajel Harrell through projects at the Holland Festival.
