Photo by Sean Deckert

Heidi Duckler Dance, the pioneering Los Angeles-based company renowned for its bold, site-specific performances, is thrilled to announce Raymond Ejiofor as our new Artistic Director. This leadership transition comes at a milestone moment as we celebrate the 40th anniversary this year, reflecting on four decades of innovation, community engagement, and transforming public spaces into immersive artistic experiences.

Founder and longtime Artistic Director Heidi Duckler is passing the torch after leading the company since its inception, marking a significant transition in Heidi Duckler Dance’s history. Under Heidi’s visionary leadership, Heidi Duckler Dance has built a groundbreaking legacy—creating immersive dance works in unconventional spaces, pushing the boundaries of site-specific performance, and fostering deep connections with communities. As the company moves into its next chapter, it remains dedicated to innovation, inclusivity, and artistic excellence under Raymond’s leadership.

Artistic Director, Raymond Ejiofor

Raymond Ejiofor is a Gates Millennium Fellow and earned a Masters of Public Health Policy from USC and his B.S. in Decision Science from Carnegie Mellon University. Raymond began his training under Judith Rhodes Calgaro in Arlington, VA and the Dance Theater of Harlem. Under the direction of Greer Reed, Ejiofor was a founding member of August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble (AWCDE), which was named “25 to Watch” in 2012 by Dance Magazine. Ejiofor has danced and created works with Daniel Ezralow, Ryan Heffington, Chole Arnold, Aszure Barton, Lula Washington, Bryan Arias, Danielle Agami, Sidra Bell, Kyle Abraham and Robert Battle. Ejiofor currently collaborates with various companies including Ezralow Dance, LA Opera, Post:Ballet and David Roussève/REALITY. Some of his credits include the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, MTV VMAs, American Music Awards, Audi, Hermès, Samsung, Apple, Beijing Dance Festival and Lincoln Center: David H. Koch Theater. He has performed with artists such as P!NK, Sia, Katy Perry, Pharrell, Dua Lipa, The Weekend, 30 Seconds to Mars, and Daft Punk. He has worked on various major motion pictures including Spirited, Bad Hair, and 80 For Brady as well as TV shows like the Late Late Show w/ James Corden, Physical and the Emmy winning episode of Love Death + Robots. 

Choreography commissions include Heidi Ducker Dance, August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble, Berkeley Ballet Theater, and the Glorya Kaufman Performing Arts Center at Vista Del Mar.  His choreography can be seen in film and music videos for artists such as Little Boots, Robot Koch, GirlvBoy, and Oddnesse. Ejiofor also served as a choreography consultant for the Paper Doll Militia touring aerial production “Warped”. Ejiofor was the 2023 Artist in Residence with Heidi Duckler Dance serving as a choreographer, curator and collaborating creative producer for the organization. Currently Ejiofor is the Artistic Director of Heidi Duckler Dance.

Photo by Argun Tekant