C. Kemal Nance

C. Kemal Nance, PhD (also known as "Kibon"), is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Dance and African American Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A native of Chester, Pennsylvania, he is a performer, choreographer, and scholar specializing in African Diasporan Dance. He teaches courses in contemporary African Dance practice (Umfundalai), dance history, Black masculinities, and repertory, serving as a master teacher for the Umfundalai technique of African dance.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Dance from Temple University
• M. Ed. in Dance from Temple University
• BA in Sociology/Anthropology with concentration in Black Studies from Swarthmore College

Dr. Nance's research focuses on theorizing the lived experiences of Black men who study and perform African-informed movement practices. His scholarly work examines constructions of race, gender, and masculinities through the lens of contemporary African dance forms. His publications and documentary work reveal a consistent pattern of exploring how dance functions as both cultural expression and resistance for Black men in the diaspora, with particular emphasis on identity formation and community building through movement.

Dr. Nance has received the 2013 Katherine Dunham Award for Creative Research. His dance documentary 'Deez Nuts! : Black Bodies Dancing Defiance' was selected for the 2020 Top Shorts Film Festival, continuing his trajectory of impactful scholarly-artistic contributions.

As a performer, Dr. Nance has extensive experience with numerous dance companies including Ibeji West African Dance Company, The Children of Shango, Dunya, and Kariamu & Company: Traditions where he served as Associate Artistic Director. He founded the Berry & Nance Dance Project and A Nance Dance Collective, which brings together Black men throughout the African Diaspora to produce choreographic works narrating diverse stories of Black manhood. His choreographic work 'Manifesto' premiered in Kingston, Jamaica in November 2017, demonstrating his international reach and collaborative approach to dance creation.