Thomas Warfield

Thomas Warfield, a Senior Lecturer and Director of Dance at Rochester Institute of Technology's National Technical Institute for the Deaf, has dedicated 25 years to advancing dance education and performance. A multifaceted artist and educator, he has performed globally in over 100 cities as a singer, dancer, actor, choreographer, and activist, with notable appearances at the Metropolitan Opera, for Queen Elizabeth II, and in Japan’s circus. His original project AstroDance, merging dance with astrophysics, received National Science Foundation funding.

• Collaborated with Spike Lee, Carl Sagan, John Adams, and choreographers like Merce Cunningham
• Founder of PeaceArt International and former trainer for the National Coalition Building Institute
• Leadership roles at RIT: Chair of President’s Commission on Pluralism and Inclusion, Performing Arts Task Force
• Active in Rochester’s arts community: Vice President of MuCCC Theatre board, President Emeritus of William Warfield Scholarship Fund

His research and creative work spans interdisciplinary collaborations, cultural inclusivity, and science-arts integration. Awards highlight his contributions to diversity and the arts, including the Essie Calhoun Diversity Award and Unsung Heroes Award.