RAY MERCER IS A NATIVE OF OMAHA, NE, AND STARTED HIS DANCE TRAINING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS. HE IS PRESENTLY IN HIS 18TH YEAR AS A DANCER AND FIGHT CAPTAIN IN DISNEY’S THE LION KING ON BROADWAY. OTHER PERFORMANCE CREDITS INCLUDE PROJECTS WITH GARTH FAGAN, GEORGE FAISON, ARETHA FRANKLIN, KEVIN IEGA JEFF, LUIS JOHNSON, ROD STEWART, AND TWO YEARS ON THE NATIONAL TOUR OF THE LION KING, AS WELL AS CHICAGO’S DEEPLY ROOTED DANCE THEATER (COMPANY MEMBER), AND BOSTON BALLET (GUEST ARTIST).
THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE ON BROADWAY, MERCER HAS ALSO DONATED HIS TIME TO CREATE WORKS FOR VARIOUS INITIATIVES WITHIN THE BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS (DANCERS RESPONDING TO AIDS, FIRE ISLAND DANCE FESTIVAL, RED BUCKET FOLLIES, AND MORE). HIS PRESENTATIONS EARNED THE COVETED ‘BEST ONSTAGE PRESENTATION AWARD’ A RECORD TEN TIMES, MAKING HIM THE MOST CELEBRATED CHOREOGRAPHER AT BCEFA’S ANNUAL FUNDRAISING EVENTS, WHICH RAISE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO MEMBERS OF THE THEATRE COMMUNITY. HE WAS APART OF THE CREATIVE TEAM THAT REIMAGINED THE ICONIC HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS SPREAD GAME TOUR. THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, COUPLED WITH CREATIONS FOR PREMIERE DANCE COMPANIES (AILEYII, DALLAS BLACK DANCE THEATRE, DAYTON CONTEMPORARY DANCE COMPANY, NEW JERSEY BALLET, THE PENSACOLA BALLET, PHILADANCO), LANDED HIM AMONG NEW YORK CITY’S MOST INNOVATIVE, MULTISKILED DIRECTOR/ CHOREOGRAPHERS.
A DYNAMIC VIRTUOSIC MOVER, RAY WALKS IN THE LEGACY OF BLACK DANCE PROGENITORS, CARRYING BOTH THE HISTORICAL AND VANGUARD IN HIS BODY. HIS UNCANNILY FACILE CREATES WORK THAT SURPRISES AND DELIGHTS. HIS ABILITY TO LEAD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DANCERS FORGES SPACE FOR THEM TO EXECUTE MOVEMENTS THAT THEY PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT IMPOSSIBLE. THIS EXCITEMENT ADDS TO THE INFECTIOUS, DISARMING EXPRESSION THAT CHARACTERIZES HIS BODY OF WORK.
RAY MERCER IS THE CHOREOGRAPHER FOR THE AILEY SCHOOL’S PROFESSIONAL DIVISION AND RESIDENT CHOREOGRAPHER FOR PHILADANCO. HE IS THE ARTIST IN RESIDENCE AT OMAHA PERFORMING ARTS, AND TALL POPPY ARTISTS. THE SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM COMMISSIONED AND ARCHIVED HIS WORK HAMDAN: THROUGH THE GATE OF TEARS. RAY'S THEATRICAL CONTRIBUTIONS INCLUDE WORK AS THE CHOREOGRAPHER OF DEEP LOVE: A GHOSTLY ROCK OPERA AT THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL, IN OUR AMERICA, DIRECTED BY LIESL TOMMY FOR BROADWAY FOR BIDEN, AND AIN’T MISBEHAVIN' AT OMAHA PLAYHOUSE.
Harlem Globetroters - Jumbotron Content
Ray conceptualized, directed, and choreographed for the Harlem Globetroters' jumbotron content. He was also part of the creative team that reimagined the Harlem Globetrotters Spread Game Tour.
Basketball wizardy. Ankle-breaking moves, jaw-dropping swag, new drip. The Harlem Globetrotters are back and you don’t want to miss the Spread Game Tour.
Get your tickets here.