Jamal Callender is a Bajan-American dancer, choreographer, educator, and director, and a Princess Grace Awardee (2012). In 2026, he was appointed Associate Dean and Director of the Dance Division at The Juilliard School. He graduated from Juilliard with a BFA in 2009 and later earned a Master’s degree in Communication and Education from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. He is also a BASI-trained Pilates instructor.

He began his training at Ballet Tech and the Brooklyn College Preparatory Center for the Performing Arts, and graduated from the Professional Performing Arts School/The Ailey School, while also studying at Restoration Dance Theater and the Harlem School of the Arts.

Jamal’s performance career spans leading companies across the United States and Europe, including Atlanta Ballet and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. He performed as a principal dancer with Ballet Hispánico and as a soloist with Kevin O’Day Ballett, NTM Tanz at the National Theater Mannheim, Ballet Bern, and Riva & Repele Company.

In 2014, he founded the Barbados Dance Project, a tuition-free initiative dedicated to mentorship, accessibility, and cultural exchange in dance education. In 2017, he was named one of the “51 Inspiring Young Bajans” by Barbados Today in celebration of the country’s 51st year of independence. His global teaching experience includes Cincinnati Ballet, Ballet Jazz de Montréal, The Joffrey Ballet School, Ailey II, IT Dansa, New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA), Par en Danza, MOVE|NYC|, Juilliard/Nord Anglia, and the Institute of the Arts Barcelona. He has also served as interim rehearsal director for Ballet Hispánico, most recently contributing to its 2025 European tour.

As a choreographer, Jamal was the winner of the 92Y Future Dance Festival in 2021 and was invited to present his work during Martha Graham’s Joyce Theater season in New York City. His choreography has been presented internationally across the United States, Barbados, Germany, and Spain, including a staging of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 at Factoria de Dansa. He also served as choreographic assistant for A Shadow Work by Chanel DaSilva for Ballet Black.

His creative directing extends into interdisciplinary and commercial collaborations with the NFL, Google, Cartier, MSC Cruises, and the Hermès Foundation. He has appeared in campaigns for BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Amazon, Pandora, Dior, and Nerds, including opening the Dior Spring/Summer 2023 fashion show in Paris and performing at Milan Design Week for Porsche, both choreographed by Imre and Marne van Opstal.

He is also featured in Jeremy Pope’s short film God Is Good, directed by C Prinz, with choreography by Parris Goebel.

His master’s thesis, BULL-A: Examining Homophobia in Dancehall Music and Its Resurgence on TikTok, reflects his ongoing commitment to LGBTQ+ advocacy, media literacy, and socially engaged artistic practice. A lifelong advocate for equity in the arts, Callender has served on the Dance/NYC Junior Committee and is an artistic advisor for MOVE|NYC|.

I thank my family for the years of sacrifice that helped me become who I am today. To Nechia and Tiffany, thank you for giving up your Saturdays to take me to ballet class. To my mommy and daddy, who always championed me and made the impossible feel possible—your sacrifice is deeply felt. Thank you.