MARK CASERTA
mcaserta88@gmail.com www.markcaserta.com @future.doodles
Artist: Choreographer, Director, Dancer, Educator
Employment + Experience
Bennington College, Vermont
Guest Faculty (BFA Dance Program) 2024-2026
RuPauls Drag Races’ Sapphira CrÍstal’s North American Tour “The CrÍstal Ball”, 28 Cities (US and Canada)
Co-Choreographer and Dancer
University of the Arts: School of Dance, Philadelphia
Artist in Residence + Faculty 2021-2024 / Guest Choreographer 2014-2024
Gibney Dance Center, New York
Contemporary Faculty 2019-2026 / Commissioned Choreographer, Gibney Company 2020
Peridance Center, New York
Contemporary Faculty 2020-2026 / Commissioned Choreographer, Youth Ensemble 2022
Artist in Residence 24/25
Harlem School of the Arts, New York
Contemporary Faculty 2021
Camille A. Brown & Dancers, New York
Dance Artist 2016-2018
Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, Montreal QC
Principal Dance Artist 2014-2016
Complexions Contemporary Ballet, New York
Principal Dance Artist 2010-2014
America’s Got Talent, New York + New Jersey
Dancer, 2012
Step Up 2: The Streets, Major Motion Picture
Dancer/Extra, 2008
Choreography / Commissioned Works
-University of North Carolina School of the Arts / Summer Program (2026)
-DC Dance Festival x DancePlace (2026)
-BIGKID DANCE (2021-2026)
-SALT II (2026)
-Boykin Dance Project (2026)
-Bennington College BFA Dance Lab (2025)
-SALT Link (2025)
-Whim W’Him Contemporary Dance Seattle (2022 + 2025)
-COCA Pre Professional Company (2025)
-Peridance Presents: Artist in Residence (2025)
-Jacob’s Pillow Ann & Westin Hicks Choreography Fellow Residency (2023)
-American Ballet Theater ABT (2023)
-Dance Lab NY (2023)
-BlackLight Summit (2023)
-The Ailey School BFA Program (2022)
-UniversIty of the Arts, School of Dance (2014-2024)
-Peridance Youth Ensemble (2022)
-DanceWorks Chicago (2022)
-Gibney Company (2020)
-Kit Modus (2019)
-Dark Circles Contemporary Dance (2019)
-Springboard Danse Montreal (2018)
-Pace University (2017 + 2024)
-Banff Performing Arts Centre LAB (2016)
-PA Ballet II / Philadelphia Ballet II (2010)
Awards & More
-2023 Princess Grace Award Winner / Choreography
-2023 ABT Choreography Incubator: Choreographer
-2022 Black Light Summit Artist (The Clarice, UMD)
-2020 EMERGE Choreography Award Recipient (Gibney Company + Springboard)
-2018 Emerging Choreographer Springboard Danse
-2018-2020 YAGP Outstanding Choreography Award(s)
-2010 PA Ballet Choreography Award
-2010 Patrick Swayze Scholarship x Complexions Contemporary Ballet
-2009 Philadelphia Rocky Award for Outstanding Dance Performance
Education & Training
University of the Arts, School of Dance / BFA Dance + Ballet Performance 2010
Philadelphia High School for Creative & Performing Arts / Diploma 2006
The Ailey School (Fellowship Scholarship, Summer Program) 2006-2008
Solo Commissions / College Auditions, Competitions, Conventions
2012-2026 Contemporary + Contemporary Ballet Solos for
-Youth American Grand Prix Finalists
-Young Arts Finalists and Winners
-Dance Awards Winners
-University of the Arts and The Ailey School
Artistic Directing
Artistic/Creative Director of BIGKID DANCE
Philadelphia PA
Officially Founded 2018 (under Mark Caserta & Artists) Recreated in 2021
Created and Premiered 6 Full Evening Length Works
Self Produced Shows / Evening Length Works
“BIGKID” premiered Spring 2019, Gibney Dance, New York (POP Performance Series)
“PEEL” premiered Winter 2019, The White Theater, Dallas TX
“it’s better when you close your eyes” premiered Winter 2021, Gershman Hall, Philadelphia
“ON and ON and ON: end of time 3000” premiered Spring 2023, Gershman Hall, Philadelphia
“BRUTE” premiered spring 2024, Gershman Hall, Philadelphia
“If I Die Before the Revolution” premiered February 2026, DancePlace, Washington DC
Director/Curator of “Create + Connect”
Online (virtual) and now in person, founded 2020
Week-long Creative Movement Workshops Highlighting LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC Artists
-Including guest artists Sidra Bell, Christian Warner, Joy-Marie Thompson, SLOWDANGER, Kimie Parker, Dorchel Haqq, Ashley Green, Kayla Farrish, Mikey Morado, Alexander Anderson, Keerati Jinakunwiphat, Samantha Figgins, verbal animal, Dareon Blowe, Tislarm Bouie and more
Co-Director of “The Thriving Artist Project” Pre Professional Program
Dallas, Texas
Created in 2017
A free program for young pre-professionals to experience world renowned dance artists on a weekly basis, partaking in movement workshops, creative processes and performances. Through this non profit, we were able to curate and present 3 fully produced and collaborative interactive installations and two full evening length works.
-Our guest teachers/choreographers included artists from NDT, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Marcat Dance, Rubberband Dance and more
Ambassador
Representative/Teacher and Choreographer for “MindLeaps”
501(c)3 organization working in developing countries to improve school performance and create positive livelihoods for at-risk youth. MindLeaps runs a unique program, based on a standardized dance methodology, that helps out-of-school and vulnerable youth undergo behavioral transformation, catch up on basic cognitive development and learn work-ready skills.
Expanded Training/Company Work Experience
-Eleone Dance Theater: Principal dancer 2006-2010
-Waheed Works: Company dancer 2008-2010
-Grace Dance Theater: Commissioned Work 2013 “The Man”
-Philadanco + Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Training:
Ballet, Horton, Graham, Dunham, West African, Hip Hop forms, Jazz, Tap, Theater, Choir
www.markcaserta.com www.bigkiddance.com @future.doodles @_bigkids