Billy James Hawkains

Billy James Hawkains III, was first introduced to dance at his hometown Baptist church in Detroit, MI. He began taking classes under Anthony Smith at Lewis Cass Technical High School, where ballet was his first dance genre. Now a multidisciplinary dancer, choreographer, writer, and filmmaker, Billy holds an MFA in dance from UNCG and a BFA in dance performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. In 2017, he began dancing with Theatre of Movement, a performance and visual art collective led by Duane Cyrus. Billy’s work as a choreographic assistant to Cyrus can be seen in works such as “Colony of Desire,” a commission for the Charlotte Ballet that premiered in 2020. Hawkains is a founding member of The Black Network, a band of artists, professionals and activists promoting funding opportunities and growth within the global black community. Billy has performed world-renowned works by Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, Doug Varone, Juel D. Lane. During his graduate research, Billy examined religious topics and themes in relation to movement. In his MFA thesis, “By Fire”, he explored his deep connection to Afro-diasporic spirituality through dance and music. Billy’s current creative expression is triggered by his Christian faith and interest in the technology of the human body. Billy is currently serving as the Limited-term Assistant Professor of Dance at Kennesaw State University.