Raquelle Chavis

Raquelle Chavis began her artistic studies in her native city of Queens, New York. Her studies began at The Long Island School of Music, The Eglevsky Ballet School, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center's Children's Program, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center's Merit Scholarship Program, and The School of American Ballet. Ms. Chavis is a Graduate of New York's Prestigious High School of The Performing Arts, where she received The B'nai Brith Award for Excellence in Dance, and the "Arts Award" from The National Foundation for the Advancement of The Arts for distinction of Presidential
Scholar. Raquelle has performed throughout The U.S and the Caribbean with The Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble / Ailey II, under the direction of Sylvia Waters, and she has performed throughout the United States, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, the Soviet Union, and Asia as an 8 year soloist / Principle Dancer with The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater under the direction of Mr.Ailey until his death in 1989, and current director Judith Jamison until 1994.

She has worked very closely with; Alvin Ailey, Homer Bryant, Mary Barnett, Talley Beatty, Fred Benjamin, John Butler, Donald Byrd, Vanette Carroll, Hope Clarke, Robert Christopher, Ze'eva Cohen, Blondell Cummings, Katherine Dunham, Ulysses Dove, Carmen De Lavallade, George Faison, Louis Falco, Penny Frank, Elisa Monte, Sylvia Waters, Warren Spears, Mari Kajiwara, Jerome Robbins, Mary Hinkson, William Hammerstein, Dudley Williams, Lavinia Williams, Pearl Primus, Joan Peters, Jennifer Muller, Keith Lee, Lar Lubovich, Josephine Premice, Walter Raines, Kelvin Rotardier, Anna Sokolow,
Dwight Rhoden, Joyce Tristler, Andre' Tyson, Jimmy Truitte, Igor Youskevitch, Micheal Vernon, Martha Graham, Elliot Feld, Garth Fagan, Ralph Farrington, Miguel Godreau, Linda Haberman, Judith Jamison, Louis Johnson, Jowole Willa Zollar, & Donald McKayle, just to name a few.

Raquelle was a featured Soloist in the "Emmy Award" winning documentary "Two by Dove" for PBS and Great Performances and the series "Free to Dance". Ms.Chavis has appeared as a featured singer in four Radio City Music Hall productions, Bob Fosses "PIPPIN", the Broadway Concert with B.D Wong, Lucie Arnez, Audra McDonald, Pia Zadora, Gregory Harrison, Boyd Gaines, and Dr. Ruth Westheimer.

For many years, she assisted the late; legendary choreographer Talley Beatty on productions of "Carmen Jones" (lead Dancer/Dance Captain) and the restaging of "Congo Tango Palace"

She Directed and Choreographed the Musical/Play "Marion Anderson The Lady From Philadelphia" for the National Black Theatre NYC, and Town Hall NYC, Produced by Dr. Barbara Ann Teer, and Woody King. She was Dance captain and Assistant Director to the late Tony Award winning Director / Play-write Vanette Carroll and received outstanding reviews for her starring role as "Mary" in Carroll's "Your Arms Too Short To Box With God" with Teddy Pendergrass, Stephanie Mills, BeBe Winans, and Jennifer Holiday.

Most recently she was The Stage Director for The Music World/JFK Entertainment production of Dwight B's "Will A Real Man Please Stand up".

She has done film and TV in Europe since 1997, and won notoriety playing the role of Josephine Baker in the miniseries "Sturmzeit I". Currently, Raquelle is developing works for the first Season of her Performing Arts & Entertainment company "Geechie Anne Productions Inc.", and she is busy wrapping up her album entitled "Rilanga & Other Short Stories"