Lakai Worrell

Lakai Worrell has been living and working as a professional artist for several years.  Starting out as a Hip-Hop artist he has developed into a much more rounded artist with many other styles now under his belt. From African to Jazz to Modern and a touch of Ballet
Mr. Worrell has grown into another kind of artist by way of his training and passion for his artistic expression.

Mr. Worrell has Co-founded and developed two arts organizations, choreographed for a number of venues, written and directed theatrical works and had the opportunity to work with a myriad of artist, ranging from the community and local status to the International and world renowned.  Some of these artist have been: Avery Brooks, Harold Scott, Michael Kahn and The Shakespeare Theatre, Marlies Yearby; Wendell Pierce, Ornette Coleman, Ossie Davis, James Stovall; Phyllicia Rashaad, Esther Grant, Kevin "Iega" Jeff, Max Roach, Crystal Waters, Obediah Wright, Lauren Hill, Olatunje Babatunje, Cassandra Wilson, Souleyman and Suquan diop, Yousouf Koumbasa, Justin Emeka and Mr. Jesse Wooden Jr. of St. Paul Community Baptist Church.

His talents have carried him to many states, countries and national and International cities, to perform with a number of different artist and groups. In Chicago with Kevin Jeff and the Joseph Holmes dance theatre, Washington DC with Fabian Barnes, Oklahoma, California, France, Italy, Jamaica, Germany and Greece at the Herode Atticus amphitheatre at the Acropolis in Greece with Michael Khan and Avery Brooks are just a few places that have added to his development as an Artist.

As a Choreographer his works have been used in, created for and experienced in: Skiddles the movie: an independent film, The Maafa; St. Paul Community Baptist Church, Dance This: The Seattle Theatre Group, Sankofa Theatre: A Maafa Experience, 30 years of Magic: A celebration for Michael Jackson, The Daddy Conference: Malik Yoba Productions, The Best of seven @651 Arts: Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn; Dance Africa and Kwanzaa 1999, 2000 at The American Museum of Natural History.

Some of his modeling credits include "Tan with a plan", Gear Magazine; Pelle Pelle, Fashion week- Runway model and dancer; Diesel Jeans, Milan Italy- Runway model; Hot 97 poster campaign-NYC Print Ad.

Mr. Worrell is a truly dedicated teacher and takes his craft to students on every level.  From the novice to the professional, from Brooklyn to Seattle Washington, from the Campion School in Athens Greece to exchange students from South Africa all have been able to experience his teaching style and technique.

Recently he was the Director of the Performing Arts Program (P.A.P) at Creative Outlet Dance theatre of Brooklyn, as well as the mentor and main force behind the Young Men's rites of passage program and one of the coordinators for the Arts N Education Program, which served the Tri-state areas Department of Education. Currently Mr. Worrell has developed a second arts organization, PURELEMENTS: an Evolution in Dance .  The company is dedicated to using the arts as a tool for full healing and growth of the person involved.

As a Dancer, choreographer, teacher, model, Director and Man of God, Mr. Worrell has vowed to continually use his talents for the expansion of himself and those whose lives he touches and is responsible for.

"I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of GOD that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto GOD, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of GOD" Romans 12 1:2

Brooklyn NY/Trinidad & Tobago Kevin began dancing at the age of 10 on the streets of East New York Brooklyn as part of a generation that grew up in the hip hop cultural movement.  During his early college life he was introduced to more formal training in dance with various choreographers and Institutions. Dyane Harvey, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Dance New Amsterdam (formerly called Dance Space, Inc.),

Throughout Kevin's development years he co-founded Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn.  There Kevin served as principal dancer, modern dance instructor for the school, managing director, and later Education Director which developed into a multifaceted Arts in Education experience for NYC Department of Education students. During Kevin's tenure with Creative Outlet; Kevin was presented with the Black Men of Distinction Award by Marty Markowitz.  Kevin also served as the Contemporary Modern dance instructor and choreographer with American Heritage Dance Convention and as a guest artist at the Campion school in Greece.

Some of the choreographers/Directors/Artists that Kevin has worked with and pays homage to include: Kevin Iega Jeff-Jubilation Dance Company, Abdel Salaam-Forces of Nature Dance Theater Company, Michael Khan-Shakespeare Theater Company, Obediah Wright, Marlies Yearby, George Faison, Otis Salid, Avery Brooks, Lauren Hill and Anthony Hamilton. 

Some of his performance credits include: The Essence Awards, VH1 Divas Live, PBS's "Black Dance in The 20th Century", The Maafa Suite- A Healing Journey and The Oedipus Plays- performed at the Herode Atticus amphitheatre at the Acropolis in Greece with Avery Brooks and Earl Hyman. 

As a choreographer his movement derives from Modern, Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop and African dance techniques.  This unique blend of movement can still be traced back to his adolescent days as a Brooklyn break dancer, which greatly influences his contemporary dance vocabulary and style.  His choreographic credits include:  The American Black Film Festival, 651 Arts @ BAM, Lincoln Center Outdoors, Celebrate Brooklyn and Jacobs Pillow.

Kevin has found a new path in life that includes dance as an empowerment tool for students and professionals.  With this understanding, Kevin is the co-Executive Artistic Director of Purelements: An Evolution in Dance, Inc.  An organization where dance is experienced and expressed in three folds.  A dance company, a school, and an outreach program. Kevin's plans for Purelements, is to steadily push the barriers of Art through dance, simultaneously allowing urban youth to "Step into Themselves" through artistic excellence.