Duane Cyrus is an Assistant Professor of Dance, teaching dance technique and other studio courses. Duane holds a BFA from the Juilliard School and an MFA from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In between, he danced with the Martha Graham Dance Company and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, in musical theater (including the original London production of Walt Disney’s Lion King and the National touring company of Carousel), on television, and in a variety of other venues. He has worked as an independent artist throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia as teacher, performer, and choreographer, and was also a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Illinois. His list of honors and awards includes the Princess Grace Foundation Award for Emerging Artists. Duane is the co-author and editor of the book Vital Grace—The Black Male Dancer, a photographic celebration of black men in dance.