Jean Appolon Brings Haitian Dance and Resilience to Trinity College

Lily Mellitz ’26

Executive Arts & Entertainment Editor

Jean Appolon, a renowned Haitian dancer and choreographer, has dedicated his career to preserving and evolving Afro-Haitian dance, using movement as a bridge between traditional and contemporary expression. Born in Haiti and now based in Boston, he has tirelessly worked to share the rich cultural heritage of Haitian dance with audiences worldwide. During his residency at Trinity College, Appolon led master dance and drumming classes, deepening his mission of cultural education and artistic exchange.

As the culmination of his residency, Appolon and his company, Jean Appolon Expressions (JAE), delivered a mesmerizing performance of  “An n Ale” (“Let’s go” in Haitian Creole) on Feb. 7 in the Goodwin Theater at Austin Arts Center. A breathtaking fusion of power, grace and storytelling, the performance seamlessly blended Haitian folkloric dance with contemporary movement, captivating audiences with its electrifying energy, emotional depth and artistic brilliance.

A one-time event, “An n Ale” seamlessly combined three compelling pieces — “Ginen” (“Where we came from” in Haitian Creole”) “BLACK IS BLACK” and “Petro” (“Power” in Haitian Creole) — through powerful choreography and spoken word, creating an immersive and thought-provoking experience that resonated long after the final movement. 

Led by Appolon, the company, consisting of IJ Chan, Velouse Joseph, Aiden Marshall, Meghan McGrath, Lonnie Stanton and Mcebisi Bisi Xotyeni, explored themes of identity, displacement and healing, using movement as a powerful language of resilience. The choreography blended fluid, rhythmic footwork with explosive, full-bodied motion, embodying both the spiritual depth and unyielding strength at the heart of Haitian culture.

One of the evening’s most striking pieces, “Ginen,” vividly portrayed the struggles and perseverance of Haitian and Black communities in the face of adversity. The dancers’ precise, expressive storytelling transcended words, drawing the audience into a world where movement conveyed the weight of history, resistance and survival. The interplay between percussive rhythms and lyrical sequences underscored the ever-present duality of struggle and hope — a defining feature of Appolon’s choreography.

Live music by Val Jeanty, Arnaud Lauture and Josil Rebert heightened the intensity of the performance, forging a deep connection between the dancers and the musicians. The synergy between sound and movement was electric, transforming the performance into a communal experience rather than just a theatrical one. The pulsing rhythms and soulful melodies grounded the dancers in the Afro-Caribbean traditions that inspire JAE’s work, reinforcing dance as both cultural preservation and personal expression.

In a post-show talkback, Appolon emphasized the role of dance as a tool for healing and connection, particularly for Haitian communities navigating political and environmental turmoil.

“When we become one, and that kind of connection of sharing vocabulary, sharing languages, sharing movement, it make[s] the room become very safe and very tolerant,” Appolon said. “We have to be tolerant with each other because we need that.”

Appolon’s passion for using movement as a means of therapy and self-discovery resonated deeply with the audience, reinforcing the idea that dance is more than just performance — it is a language of survival and renewal.

Jean Appolon Expressions’ performance at Trinity College was more than a showcase of exceptional artistry; it was a moving tribute to the power of dance as storytelling, resistance and transformation. Those in attendance left not only inspired by the breathtaking movement but also reminded of the enduring spirit embedded in Haitian tradition and the boundless potential of the arts to foster connection and change.