Harrison Guy—the Artistic Director of Urban Souls Dance Company (USDC)—has captivated audiences across the nation through his inspirational and unique works of passion, beauty, and activism that are rooted in African American culture. Guy began his dance journey in La Marque, Texas at Ruth Elgin Dance Studios. Building on his love for social dance and hip-hop, Guy studied Dance at Prairie View A&M University, Texas, under the artistic direction of Kenneth Epting and Paula Williams. He went on to study at The Houston Metropolitan Dance Center, Texas; Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas; Deeply Rooted Productions in Chicago, Illinois; Dallas Black Dance Theater, Texas; and The Ailey School in New York, New York. In 2004, Guy debuted his dance company, Urban Souls Dance Company at the city-wide dance festival, Dance Houston. Since the inaugural performance, he has led Urban Souls to win the Dance Houston Award, and Best Artistic Achievement honors in both 2005 and 2006. In 2008, Dance Houston presented USDC with two awards; Best Choreography and The Audience Pick Award. Urban Souls was also awarded Best Choreography at the Houston Black Dance Festival in 2008. Guy has gained a reputation for creating soul stirring works that shift the consciousness of the audience. He has facilitated a cultural exchange in Kigali, Rwanda and was commissioned to create a work at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, in the spring of 2015 to honor one of America’s most prominent composers, John Harbison. In 2016, Guy launched Houston’s first African American Dance Festival. Guy is a current recipient of the Idea Fund Grant where he is working to synchronize the efforts and energies of Houston’s Black creatives with the Black Arts Movement Houston.
