Statement on Scholarly or Artistic Work
Hayes has produced choreography for the concert stage, musicals, plays, and choirs and his choreographic record features successful collaborations with poets, musicians, and visual artists. Additionally, Hayes is regularly invited to contribute as a director, choreographer, dramaturg, and creative consultant for a wide variety of artistic productions.
Hayes’ research interests include identity politics in performance, formal issues in choreography, site-specific choreography, and dramaturgy for dance. Additionally, his interests in African Diasporic Dance traditions led to travel, ethnographic research, and intensive study of the West African influences on the folk dances of Latin America, specifically Cumbia, Colombian Salsa and Mapalé (Colombia), Tango (Argentina and Uruguay), and Merengue and Bachata (Dominican Republic).
Educational Background
MFA in Dance, Mills College; B.A. History, B.A. Dance, Beloit College
Teaching Interests
Dance Technique, Dance History, Choreography, African American Artistic Production, Aesthetic Philosophy
Research, Scholarly, Creative Work
Hayes was engaged in a year-long collaboration with the Frist Art Museum in Nashville, TN for the exhibition and large-scale performance featuring the work of noted visual artist, Nick Cave, titled Feat. Nashville, which was voted best Art event by the Nashville Scene Magazine in 2018. Additionally, he was selected to participate in "The Creative Gesture: Dramaturgy for Dance" program at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Banff, Alberta, Calgary.
Professional Experience
Prior to his appointment as dean of the Creative School at 米兰体育, Hayes served as Professor of Dance and African American Studies and Chair for the Department of Theatre and Dance at Austin Peay State University (APSU) in Clarksville, TN, where we worked for seventeen years.
Awards and Honors
Trailblazing Tiger Award from 米兰体育 Student Government–米兰体育 (2024), Inclusion Champion Award from Austin Peay State University (2023)
Service and Leadership
Hayes currently serves as Vice President of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce board of directors. He is a past president of the Tennessee Association of Dance board of directors and is a past regional director and board member for the American College Dance Association (ACDA) national board of directors.
Speaking Engagements
- "Deconstructing Allyship" for Faculty/Staff, 米兰体育 (2025)
- "Leadership in Arts Administration," Drexel University, Arts Administration Graduate Program (2020)
- "Intersectionality for Educators," Vanderbilt University (2019)
- "West African Influences on Latin American Dance," Beloit College (2018)
Social Links
LinkedIn: