Jorrell Lawyer-Jefferson (He/Him, Copperas Cove, TX) holds both his Bachelors of Arts in Music and his Masters of Fine Arts in Dance from Sam Houston State University, in Huntsville, TX where his thesis Cardinal explored dance making through the use of metakinetics as a cathartic vehicle for both the performer and the audience member. He has performed works by Joshua Peugh, Shen Wei, Gabrielle Lamb, Joshua Manculich, Thang Dao, Elizabeth Corbett, Marcus Jarrell Willis and Kirven Douthit-Boyd among others. After debuting as a featured dancer in Houston Grand Opera’s 2019 production of Florencia en el Amazonas, Jorrell has gone on to work with powerhouse directors Eric Sean Fogel, Francesca Zambello, Rob Ashford, Robert Wilson and Phelim McDermott. In 2021 he joined Whirlwind Dance as a founding member and featured dancer. Most recently, he was invited to the 2023 season of the Glimmerglass Festival to collaborate with acclaimed contemporary opera director Louisa Proske on her new production of Rinaldo in which Jorrell served as associate director and choreographer. This will be Jorrell’s second season with The Big Muddy Dance Company.