Education:
Bachelor of Arts in Dance, UNC Charlotte (2015)
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Dedrick Perkins was 21 years old and still a student at UNC Charlotte when he founded his own dance studio. He had begun teaching in studios in Monroe and Charlotte soon after coming to college and soon knew that he "valued the teaching aspect a lot more than performing.” Now in its seventh year, Dedrick's Dance District is thriving, and Dedrick is also traveling to choreograph and instruct at workshops at various high schools and communities that provide dance programs and/or dance instructors outside of the Charlotte/Concord area. Working within dance programs and teams such as Johnson C. Smith University, North Carolina A&T, Hopewell High School, and more, he has established himself as a popular local resource in the dance community.
His programs continue to grow and receive top accolades at regional and national competitions, and he was recently awarded Nationals Choreographer of the Year. He’s been a lead CIAA choreographer, and his program has performed at halftime shows for CIAA tounaments, UNC Charlotte, and Johnson C. Smith University.
And he's keeping his performing chops, too, as an NBA dancer for the Hornets Hive Hip Hop Crew.
Dedrick's education at UNC Charlotte gave him the broad skill set he needed to succeed as a dancer, teacher, choreographer, and a businessman.
"An educational experience I will never forget is working with Professor Delia Neil during my time at the university," he says. "Working with her helped me truly understand the importance of commitment and dedication to the art of dance or to anything that you choose to involve yourself in. The Spring 2014 semester, in particular, helped build the work ethic that I apply to my business daily."
Dedrick notes that the University's growth has benefitted its students: "Anyone attending UNC Charlotte should take advantage of the many opportunities that the university provides for each of us. Many of those opportunities only come across once in a lifetime."
