Sonia Dawkins

Sonia Dawkins, BFA, University of the Arts, MFA, SUNY Brockport, is founder and artistic
director of SD Prism Dance Theatre and member of SDC. The first African American female
faculty member and choreographer at Pacific Northwest Ballet, guest teacher or choreographer
at the Alvin Ailey American Dance School, University of North Carolina School of the Arts,
the University of Oklahoma, and Cornish College of the Arts. Ms. Dawkins has
choreographed and directed in the United States, Jamaica, Bulgaria, Spain, France, Mexico, and
other places. Her selected choreography/directorial credits work includes: Seattle Children
Theater/The Alliance (The Boy Who Kissed the Sky), Village Theatre (Curious Incident of the
Dog in the Night-Time) Gypsy Rose Lee Award for choreography 2019, (My Heart is a Drum);
Seattle Repertory Theatre, Arena Stage, Goodman Theatre (Pullman Porter Blues)
nominated for the same award for, 2012; Seattle Repertory Theatre (Three Musketeers,
Brother Size), Gypsy Rose Lee Award for choreography2012, (The Breach); Pacific Northwest
Ballet; Nevada Ballet; Seattle Theatre Group (Dance This); and Broadway Bound (13 the
Musical, Bye Bye Birdie, God Lives in Glass). Choreographed at the Iliev Foundation/ Bulgaria
Dance Festival and the Mexican International Festival and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.
She choreographed and coached winning participants in the Youth Grand Prix and the Young
Arts Recognition.
Ms. Dawkins was on the Board of Directors of Dance on Camera for 3 1/2 years (2021-
2025), currently a choreographer for Repertoire Class at the Alvin Ailey American Dance
Theater School BFA Fordham, SUNY Geneseo and Peabody Institute, Director of SD Prism
Dance Theatre Workshops, and from 2023 to present she is teaching and bringing students to
the Nacho Duato Academy and is on the faculty of Baltimore School of the Arts.