Candice Franklin

Candice Franklin is a New York-based professional dancer, choreographer, and artistic director of JAZZ AIN'T DEAD® and Cumbe RISE. She is currently Lecturer in Dance at Sarah Lawrence College (SLC) and a faculty member of Joffrey Ballet School's audition tour team. Her work focuses on jazz dance, Katherine Dunham technique, and community performance workshops, with presentations at venues such as Lincoln Center, Yale University, and Harlem Arts Festival.

• Alvin Ailey American Dance Center conservatory training
• Studying at Ballroom Dance Teachers College of New Mexico
• IDTC certification candidate in Katherine Dunham technique
• Pursuing MBA in Music Business (Berklee College of Music/SNHU)

Her research interests blend jazz dance, African and Diaspora Dance, and urban jazz performance through choreography and community engagement, emphasizing cultural preservation and innovation.

Franklin's artistic leadership includes collaborations with Grammy award-winning artists like Macy Gray, as well as teaching nationally and internationally. She continues to bridge dance education, performance, and business through her academic and creative pursuits.