Obediah Wright
Phillip Obediah Wright, known as Obediah Wright is an artistic director, choreographer, master teacher, director, and producer. He was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. As a boy, he attended Our Lady of Victory Catholic school, then went on to LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts, as teenager. At the same time, he attended Bernice Johnson Dance Studio and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Following the completion of his high school education, his scholarship was further nurtured through his attendance to reputable dance institutions: Julliard College; hence, this creative’s choreographies have not only demonstrated his eclecticism, but also his extensive training in dance idioms such as ballet, modern, jazz, Afro-Cuban, swing, and musical theatre. These experiences have enabled him to engage in performance and teaching of various artistic genres.
As a producer, Obediah has produced more than 30 ballets, with his most acclaimed creation entitled, Higher Ground Still Rising. This production retraces the rich cultural heritage of the people of Africa through time – from pre-slavery through The Middle Passage to the 20th century. In 2006, The historic Schomburg Center for Research and Black Culture in New York has had the privilege of archiving this premiered masterpiece that has been named in the City of Newark New Jersey’s Proclamation in commemoration of Juneteenth Day as a holiday.
Obediah is the founder, artistic director, instructor, and choreographer of Balance Dance Theater and Balance Dance Academy for Children. His company has performed Higher Ground Still Rising at prominent institutions that include the landmark, Riverside Church, the World Financial Center, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.
As a choreographer, Obediah made his debut on the ‘silver screen’ as an assistant choreographer for the Fox Searchlight Pictures film, Black Nativity, featuring a star-studded cast with Angela Basset, Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Hudson, and Mary J. Blige. In addition, his vast and distinct array of creative works include: The Liberation of Mother Goose Sizzle Reel; Plain Girl -(Creative Dir./Casting/Vocal Arranger/Choreographer); A Lovely Malfunction -Negro Ensemble Company (Choreographer); Night Songs - American Theater for Actors (Assistant Director/Choreographer); From the African Village to the Urban Village (American Museum of Natural History); IMPACT Repertory Theatre (Choreographer); The Maafa Lincoln Center Theater Director’s Lab (Guest Choreographer); The Dream At 50, a Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King on PBS Television (Choreographer); Kwanzaa - American Museum of Natural History (Story Teller/Guest Choreographer); Presentation for US Attorney General Eric Holder - 1 Police Plaza (Production Manager, Choreographer); Message in the Music-Tribute to Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff - (Director/Choreographer/Casting Director/Costume Design); Scandalous People - The Mineta Lane Theater (Choreographer); Lifted, Fox Searchlab Pictures (Choreographer/ Actor); Storm Stories, Billie Holiday Theater (Choreographer); Get The Hook UP, TV1 Network (Talent Director); The AUDELCO Awards, Aaron Davis Hall (Director/Choreographer); Balance Dance Theater at Lincoln Center Out of Doors (Choreographer; Broadway Our Way - Turks and Caicos Islands (Choreographer); Have A Dream, Pace University (Director/Choreographer); Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Sharon Playhouse (Actor [Judah] /Assistant Choreographer); Globalcom, Television Commercial (Director/Choreographer/Casting Agent); Women of the Black Panthers, La Mama Theater (Director/Choreographer ); Oya: Yoruba Dance Drama: National Black Theater (Choreographer), Choreoquest, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corp. (Artistic Director); Tomita Sound Cloud starring: Dionne Warwick, Ray Charles, Manhattan Transfer and Isao Tomita [Nagoya, Japan] (Choreographer, Casting Director, Costume Designer, and Dancer ); Bahamian National Youth Opera Chorus [Bahamas, VI] (Choreographer); Two to Make It Right - A&M Records C&C Music Factory Producers (Music Video - Choreographer/Casting Director); and Time Love [Joyce Symms Producer-Sleeping Bag Records] (Music Video - Choreographer/Casting Director/Dancer).
Obediah has had the privilege of working with legendary artists such as Debbie Allen, M’bogeni Ngema (writer/choreographer of Sarafina), Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, The Pointer Sisters, Janet Jackson, Erykah Badu, and Ashanti. In May 2010, Obediah directed and choreographed Message in the Music, a tribute to living songwriting icons, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. He credits dance influencers and icons: Michael Peters, Geoffrey Holder, and Chuck Davis for his successful journey.
Obediah’s versatility as a dancer, producer, actor, and singer has allowed him opportunities for acquiring roles in several on/off Broadway, television, and independent film productions such as: the Wiz; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat; HAIR; Fame; Bravo Channel Network’s, Head of The Class: The Lion King Documentary; Black Broadway and the Blues; Storm Stories; MAAFA; and OYA- Winner of the AUDELCO Award for best production of the year, and the award winning short film, Lifted where he made his acting debut.
As a master teacher, Obediah possesses a very high proficiency in dance vocabulary and movement. This has been exemplified by his instruction and choreographies shared at many notable institutions including Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Debbie Allen’s Summer Intensive, Balance Dance Academy for Children, Brooklyn High School of the Arts, University of the Arts, and many Master Dance Series. Testaments to his ability to teach and choreograph using various techniques in modern, jazz, African, musical theater, and Obediah Technique are noted throughout the United States and abroad in places such as South Africa, Japan, Hong Kong, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Martinique, French West Indies.
Many of Obediah’s students have achieved winning roles in major Broadway productions such as: Stomp; The Color Purple; Disney’s, The Lion King; Fela!; West Side Story; Spiderman; and Memphis; and Mama Mia!. They are also appearing on the runways of Paris, Milan; gracing the pages of Sports Illustrated; and earning the infamous trip to Vegas as competitors on the So You Think You Can Dance television series.
Over the years, Obediah has been the recipient a multitude of awards and recognitions for his artistic works and community philanthropy. These include and are not limited to the Senate Citation - Ally Award Sister - presented by Eric Adams (2016); Visionary Award/Black Men and Boys who Dance (2016); Stellar Choreographer Award/Stars of New York Dance - presented by Cheryl Todmann (2014); Nominee for Honorary PhD of Fine Arts - Medgar Evers College/City University of New York (2012); Award of Excellence/In Recognition of Outstanding Contribution as an Inspirational African American Leader in the Field of Arts and Entertainment and as Living History - presented by The Brooklyn Campus Long Island University Student Government Association (2011); City Council Citation/Performance Artist Intergenerations: Dance Kings of Black Brooklyn - presented by Brooklyn Arts Council of New York (2010); City Council Citation/Brooklyn Juneteenth Uplift Award - presented by Councilwoman Letitia James of Brooklyn, New York (2009); Proclamation/Celebrating the Accomplishments of Baba Obediah Wright and Balance Dance Theatre - presented by Congressman Ed Towns (2008); Senate Resolution/Juneteenth Day Performance of Obediah Wright’s Higher Ground: Still Rising - presented by The State of New Jersey (2006); and Certificate of Nomination/For Excellence in Black Theater Choreography for Oya - The AUDELCO Awards (2001).
Today, in the United States, Obediah continues to be a creative who is sought for his master classes, and his professional expertise that remains in high demand. Most importantly, he continues to mold the future generation of dancers as the founder, artistic director and choreographer of Balance Dance Theatre, Inc., a dance company and dance school located in Brooklyn, New York.