artistic statement

VISIONS Contemporary Ballet is a vehicle through which my voice can be heard. As an African American choreographer, incredibly humbled and grateful to be a brain cancer survivor, having an inspirational voice through dance is my passion. I choreograph to uplift, celebrate diversity, promote healing, provoke thought and educate.  It is important to me to bring to the community, including those who are underserved and with disabilities an ethnically diverse contemporary ballet company representative of artists of color to present original works about life.  Rooted in African American heritage with multicultural influences each ballet tells a story based on the human experience and relays universal messages about emotions, beliefs and ideas.

The repertory uses an inclusive dance vocabulary. The choreography, requiring articulated bare feet and precision pointe work, takes audiences on a self-reflective journey. The dancers move seamlessly through many genres--ballet, modern, jazz and African. There are also influences of traditional praise dance. These dance forms, often combined within a single work, wrap into a contemporary ballet style. The foundation of the movement consists of ballet technique using ballet lines and adds on modern technique using very low-grounded floor work with elements of African dance.  I also enjoy collaborating with artists from other disciplines, including various music genres, incorporating videography and fusing different types of creative arts into my work. 

VISIONS Contemporary Ballet exudes strength and passion in every piece, to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages, abilities, communities and backgrounds.

Ranardo-Domeico Grays, Founder/Artistic Director VISIONS Contemporary Ballet

choreographic works

Backbone (2023)

I. LEON
Music “Opening” by Vir-Amicus
II. KATARINA
Music: “Without Your Love” by Queen Esther
III. KAYLAN
Music: “Bloodstone” by Amon Tobin
IV. MOLLIE
Music: “All That You Are” by Queen Esther
V. O'SHAE
Music: “Closing” by Vir-Amicus

Backbone, inspired by a Black artist’s heartfelt journey, integrity, and loving deeply. “There are no words to describe the journey, the sweat, the blood, the war that is being a black artist.” – Viola Davis
This piece is dedicated to all those whose lives have been lost to homophobia and racism.

Length: 20 minutes

Tainted Bla’k (2022)

I. Our Country
II. Black Like Me
III. Heart of a Lion
IV. Glory
V. Lyric for Strings

Tainted Bla’k is a celebration of the beauty of being Black set to music with messages of Blackness composed by artists of the African diaspora.

Length: 23 minutes

Shattered Lives (2021)

I. Trekking Through the Debris, Part 1
II. As Yet Untitled
III. Trekking Through the Debris, Part 2
IV. The Graceful Goodbye
V. Trekking Through the Debris, Part 3

Shattered Lives is about vulnerability, devastation, and lack of control while fighting unfortunate events and negative situations.

Length: 30 minutes

Shattered Lives was commissioned by the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning for the Making Moves Dance Festival 2021~ To Life at the Jamaica performing Arts Center, Jamaica (Queens), NY.

Still Healing (2019)
I. Never Grow Old
II. The Suffering of the World
III. Deep River
IV. This Little Light of Mine
V. Precious Lord

Still Healing is inspired by stories of people who experience pain and suffering through no fault of their own, yet they persevere.

Dedicated to Aunt Flo Campbell

Length: 18 minutes

Still Healing premiered in 2019 in Traces (of what makes us who we are) presented by VISIONS Contemporary Ballet at The Riverside Theater.

Traces (of what makes us who we are) was made possible in part with funding from the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation and from Creative Engagement, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and administered by LMCC.

Dash - Between (2018)
1. Fighting Light
2. 'Til It's Done
3. Cradle
4. Felt
5. Smudge
6. Enlightenment

Dash - Between is a ballet about living life in the dash between “born” and “died."

Dedicated to Tim Merrell

Length: 25 minutes

Dash - Between premiered in 2018 in Healing Works II at The Riverside Theater presented by VISIONS Contemporary Ballet. Healing Works II was made possible in part with funding from the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Corporation and administered by LMCC.

Through the Valley (2017)
1. Transcendence
2. Birth
3. Déjà Vu
4. Visitation
5. Exile
6. Respiration

Through the Valley explores facing adversity and dealing with obstacles when fighting for health and life.

Length: 30 minutes

Through the Valley premiered in 2017 in VISIONS Contemporary Ballet 10th Year Anniversary Performance: Healing Works presented by VISIONS Contemporary Ballet at Dixon Place.

Roots (2017)
1. Touched
2. Rise
3. Graciousness
4. Testimony
5. Confirmation

Roots, rooted in prayer, is about self-growth.

Length: 25 minutes

Roots premiered in 2017 in Harlem Arts Festival presented by HAF at the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater at Marcus Garvey Park; presented in 2017 in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer by the American Cancer Society at the Naumburg Bandshell, Central Park; and in VISIONS Contemporary Ballet 10th Year Anniversary Performance: Healing Works presented by VISIONS Contemporary Ballet at Dixon Place. Excerpts of Roots were presented in 2016 in Fast Forward at Dixon Place prior to its final conceptualization.

VISIONS Contemporary Ballet has been presented annually by the American Cancer Society at the Making Strides Central Park event since 2011.

Beautiful Madness (2014)
1. Wounded Past
2. Stolen Self
3. Armondo

Beautiful Madness reveals three sides of one person.

Poetry written and read by Ranardo-Domeico Grays
Video installations by Vir-Amicus

Length: 13 minutes

Beautiful Madness was reimagined with video installations by Vir-Amicus and presented in 2017 in VISIONS Contemporary Ballet 10th Year Anniversary Performance: Healing Works by VCB at Dixon Place. Beautiful Madness was presented in 2014 in PEEKS/Souls of Our Feet by Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center at the Actors Fund Center; in Out Like That by BAAD at Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance; and in Under Exposed by DP at Dixon Place.

Works In Progress 2011-2014
Exile (2011)
Graciousness (2012)
Rise (2012)
Fighting Light (2009)
'Til It's Done (2010)
Cradle (2014)
Felt (2013)
Smudge (2013)
Beautiful Madness (2014)
I. Wounded Past
II. Stolen Self
III. Armondo

This video captures VISIONS Contemporary Ballet’s Repertory/Works In Progress (2011-2014).

Works In Progress 2011-2014 is a collection of works performed as solos, duets and trios. These works were presented by Dixon Place in Moving Men and Under Exposed; Green Space in Fertile Ground; The Wassaic Project Summer Festival; Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center in Souls of Our Feet and PEEKS Works in Progress; Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance in Out Like That, Love Will Save The Day/Whitney Houston Tribute, Boogie Down Dance Series, Made In The Bronx, BlakTino Performance Series/Illegal Steps, and Blaktino Performance Series/Sugar in My Soul; ReVision by Forward Motion Theater in Long Island City Arts Festival at the Secret Theatre; The Field/Lower Manhattan Cultural Council/Harlem Arts Alliance in the Uptown/Downtown Artist Works-In-Progress at Chen Dance Center and Dance Theatre of Harlem; and American Cancer Society in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer at Naumburg Bandshell, Central Park.

These works were integrated with earlier works and new works as movements culminating in three separate full length ballets; Roots, Through the Valley and Dash - Between.

Dust (2009)

Dust brings awareness to the power that we have as individuals to make a difference with the choices we make. In the face of tragedy and despair we may have to make a choice to save ourselves or others. Which do we choose?

Dust was choreographed to No Bravery by James Blunt.

Length: 9 minutes

Dust was presented in 2010 in Best Dance Crew Showcase by New York Sports Clubs at Harlem Stage/Aaron Davis Hall. Dust premiered in 2009 in In Remembrance presented by VISIONS Contemporary Ballet at Roy Arias.

Caught 100 Dove (2009)

Caught 100 Dove depicts the slim chance in life to witness the vision of an angel...catching a single dove by hand out of hundreds.

Length: 13:30 minutes

Caught 100 Dove premiered in 2009 in Blaktino Performance Series Sugar in My Soul Dances to Nina Simone in presentation by BAAD at Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance.

Peace Be Still (2008)

Pease Be Still is about stillness being healing and bringing peace, enabling us to escape from infectious noise or chaos that can corrupt our bodies or relationships with negativity.

Length: 10 minutes

Peace Be Still premiered in 2008 in Fall Fielday presented by The Field & Abrons Arts Center at Abrons Arts Center Henry Street Settlement.

Armondo (2007)

Armondo was the first work in the repertory of VISIONS Contemporary Ballet at its inception in 2007. This piece laid the foundation for the company’s movement vocabulary and style.

Music by Alan Silvestri
Arranged/Mixed by Vir-Amicus
Poetry written and read by Ranardo-Domeico Grays
Performed by Ranardo-Domeico Grays

Length: 4:07 minutes

Armondo premiered in 2007 in Reach, presented by VISIONS Contemporary Ballet in collaboration with Blue Muse Dance at The Producers Club, then again presented by VCB in 2009 in In Remembrance at the Roy Arias Theatre. Armondo was restaged and performed as the third movement of Beautiful Madness in 2014 and presented by Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center in PEEKS/Souls of Our Feet at the Actors Fund Center; in Out Like That at Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance; and in Under Exposed at Dixon Place. Beautiful Madness was reimagined in 2016 and presented in VISIONS Contemporary Ballet 10th Year Anniversary Performance: Healing Works at Dixon Place.

Sleek White Candle (2006)

Sleek White Candle expresses the idea that when respect is removed from relationships, confusion follows, like shadows that ensue from dark clouds when a candle's flame is extinguished.

Length: 10 minutes

Sleek White Candle rehearsal was filmed at Dance New Amsterdam.