ALICIA GRAF MACK began her inaugural season as Dean and Director of Juilliard Dance in the fall of 2018. She is the youngest and first Black person to hold this position in the history of the The Juilliard School. Before assuming that role, Alicia enjoyed a distinguished career as a principal dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Ms. Graf Mack danced as a guest performer with Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, Beyoncé, John Legend, Andre 3000, Alicia Keys, and Jon Batiste. In addition, she’s appeared in many galas and festivals including the Youth America Grand Prix and the International Stars of the 21st Century, Vail Dance Festival and Fall for Dance at New York City Center. She has made national television appearances as a featured guest on Live with Kelly and Michael and The Tavis Smiley Show, and performed in honor of Carmen de Lavallade at the Kennedy Center Honors 2018. She was also invited to perform in the memorial services of Arthur Mitchell at Riverside Church in New York City and Jessye Norman at the MET Opera House. She appeared as the featured 2023 Women’s History month story on Good Morning America. Alicia is the 2023 recipient of the prestigious Dance Magazine Award.
Ms. Graf Mack graduated magna cum laude with honors in history from Columbia University and holds an MA in nonprofit management from Washington University in St. Louis. In 2007, Smithsonian magazine named her an American Innovator of the Arts and Sciences. She is a recipient of the Columbia University Medal of Excellence, an award given each year to one alumnus who has demonstrated excellence in their field of work. In 2008, she delivered the keynote address to the graduates of Columbia University’s School of General Studies. Additionally, Alicia received the Diversity Business Leaders 2016 award from St. Louis Business Journal and Webster University. In 2016, Alicia spoke on a panel for the arts at Gracie Mansion in New York City and was featured in the “Who’s Got Next” national commercial campaign on BET, designed to inspire girls of color to pursue their dreams. Alicia is a gifted writer and has contributed to some of the most prestigious national magazines in her industry; Dance Magazine, Pointe Magazine, and Dance Spirit. She wrote the historic cover story, “Beyond Role Models” for Pointe Magazine’s June/July 2014 diversity issue featuring Ashley Murphy, Ebony Williams, and Misty Copeland. She also authored the foreword of American Dance: The Complete Illustrated History by Margaret Fuhrer. Alicia Graf Mack has been featured in national publications including Harper’s Bazaar, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Dance Magazine, Pointe Magazine, and Interview Magazine, to name a few.
As a dance educator, Ms. Graf Mack taught as adjunct faculty at the University of Houston and Washington University in St. Louis. She was a visiting assistant professor at Webster University in St. Louis from 2010-2011 and 2015-2018. She is a co-founder of D(n)A Arts Collective, an initiative created with her sister to enrich the lives of young dancers through master classes and intensives. Ms. Graf Mack serves on the boards of Columbia University School of General Studies and Camille A. Brown and Dancers. In addition, she loves volunteering her time and talent to Art Saves Lives Foundation's summer intensive in St. Maarten.
Alicia Graf Mack is the proud co-producer and host of a new podcast, Moving Moments, featuring authentic conversations with some of the most celebrated and ground-breaking artists in the field of dance.
Alicia is married with two fantastic kids and lives in South Orange, New Jersey.
