Julian Darden

Julian Darden studied performance and choreography at the Esther Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. As a teaching artist, he has worked with the youth of Philadelphia in association with the Lenfest Center, The Village of Arts and Humanities and presently, The Philadelphia Ballet. He teaches Umfundalai, a contemporary African dance technique, at Temple University and taught various adult classes in Center City at Urban Movement Arts and Range of Motion Philly (2018-2023). Standing on the shoulders of his mentors Oluko C. Kemal Nance and his Mwalimu Monique Newton Walker, Darden received his professional teaching certification of the Umfundalai dance technique in February 2021. As a performing artist, Darden performed with D2D: Dare to Dance Co., Kariamu & Company:Traditions, and the Nance Dance Collective. He performed at New Freedom Theatre in “The Ballad of Trayvon Martin” (2016) and had his choreography featured in the productions of “Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope” (2016) and “Black Nativity” (2016), shared the stage with the Stella Maris Dance Ensemble in Kingston, Jamaica (2017-2019) and participated in the Philadelphia Fringe Arts Festival in 2016, 2017, and 2019. Darden had the privilege to work as an assistant choreographer and be featured in Saleka Shyamalan’s music video “Clarity” (2020), Kingsley Ibeneche’s music video “So Kind” (2021) and Tierra Whack’s music video “27 Club” (2024).