Kar'mel Antonyo Wade Small

Biography

Raised in the South Bronx, Kar’mel Antonyo Wade Small initiated his dance journey with American and International Ballroom styles, introduced by Pierre Dulaine, Yvonne Rainer, and Otto Cappel's American Ballroom Theater (presently known as Dancing Classrooms) and Tatiana Keegan's tutelage respectively. He further honed his craft at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, where he received formal training in ballet, modern, and jazz. Continuing his pursuit of dance, Kar’mel graduated with a BFA in Dance Performance and Composition from the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase. As a freelancer, he has taught contemporary and floorwork at Gibney and Modega, and assisted at Princeton University and Slippery Rock University. In addition to concert stage work, Kar’mel has been featured in film and TV productions, including appearances on UNIVISION’s Despierta América, HBO’s Random Acts of Flyness, TELFAR TV, International Club Diner card commercial, and KAYE's "Neon God" music video. His choreographic contributions extend to director Dean Irby’s rendition of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s “The Brothers Size" - featuring Colby Hollman, Diata Coleman, and Thomas Walter Booker. As a Chez Bushwick AiR recipient through the Jonah Bokaer Arts Foundation, he worked on his latest choreographic project and artistic journal, project:MEMORABILIA, and later joined A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham in October 2022. Kar’mel has performed in numerous renowned spaces such as The Joyce Theater, Kampnagel, Jacob’s Pillow, Symphony Space, Schauspiel Köln (Tanz Köln), The Newman Center, Kaatsbaan, BAM, Carpenter Center, Festival Arts Saint-Sauveur, New York Live Arts, Lincoln Center, among other prestigious venues. Notable choreographers he has performed works by include Kyle Abraham, Sidra Bell, Keerati Jinakunwiphat, Damani Pompey, Ohad Naharin, Kevin Wynn, Martha Graham, Eleo Pomare, Merce Cunningham, Jerome Robbins, Roderick George, Nathan Trice, Enrique Cruz DeJesus, Kayla Farrish, Sarah Elgart, Kimberly Bartosik, Fukiko Takase, Beatrice Capote, Michelle Thompson Ulerich, Ryan Yamauchi, Symara Sarai Johnson, Joy Marie Thompson, Dava Huesca, and more.