Jean Appolon
Artist-in-Residence
Jean Appolon (b. 1977, Haiti) is a celebrated Haitian dancer and choreographer who has devoted his career to preserving and advancing Afro-Haitian dance. Appolon, who is based between Haiti and Boston, MA, grew up in Port-au-Prince and came to the Boston area to live with his mother at age 17. He believes that dance is a transformative force for healing and connection—particularly for Haitian communities facing political instability and environmental challenges— and that movement is a powerful tool for fostering tolerance through shared experiences.
By the time Jean Appolon arrived as an Artist-in-Residence in the fall of 2024, he had already developed a longstanding relationship with the Gardner Museum. Appolon and his company, Jean Appolon Expressions (JAE), performed at the Gardner Museum on multiple occasions, including a special evening of dance in 2017 presented in conjunction with the exhibition Henry James and American Painting and Libète which they performed in 2023 during Betye Saar: Heart of A Wanderer. The relationship deepened when he was selected as a 2019–20 Neighborhood Salon Luminary. In the years that followed, JAE returned to workshop ideas and to perform new works.
The residency however offered Appolon a unique and enriching introduction to Isabella’s Museum, her Collection, and the staff who steward it. He spent time exploring the galleries both independently and alongside members of the Archives, Curatorial, and Conservation departments. While spending time in the galleries, Appolon reflected on the concept of “power,” which began to shape the development of his new work, Pouvwa—a title that means “power” in Haitian Creole. His son, who stayed with him in the artist's apartment, joined him for a special nighttime “Flashlight Tour” through the three floors of Fenway Court.
Appolon visited the Conservation labs, where he had the opportunity to view works up close, including James McNeill Whistler’s Nocturne, Blue and Silver: Battersea Reach, (about 1877-1878), the ongoing restoration of the Black Glass Madonna, (1570-1591), and several works by Boston artist Allan Rohan Crite (1910–2007). These were on loan in preparation for a special exhibition opening in fall 2025. He also learned about the Dutch Room restoration project, gaining insight into the conservators’ process of identifying the original patterns and colors of the wall coverings installed by Gardner and the production of the new material.
Throughout Appolon’s residency JAE rehearsed in Calderwood Hall with live drums and recorded soundscapes. On May 15, as part of Haitian Heritage Month, they presented Ansanm Ansanm, Together Together, a vibrant medley of works celebrating Haitian culture and resilience. The evening included Pouvwa (Power), a combination of Haitian-folkloric dance, Afro-electronica, live drumming, and visual effects.
About the Artist:
Jean Appolon was raised in Port-au-Prince where his passion for dance was initially discouraged by his parents, yet he persevered, training with the Viviane Gauthier Dance Company and the Folkloric Ballet of Haiti. At sixteen, Appolon immigrated to the U.S., where he continued to hone his practice in the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and Joffrey American Ballet School.
His career includes collaborations with Elma Lewis Productions, North Star Ballet Company, and the Atlantic City Ballet. In 2006, he established Jean Appolon Expressions (JAE), a dance organization dedicated to community engagement and social justice through the art of movement. Appolon’s work has been recognized with numerous awards and featured in Le Nouvelliste, The Boston Globe, The Boston Haitian Reporter, and Dance Studio Life Magazine.
JAE has shared the stage with notable figures like Danny Glover and Edwidge Danticat and has performed at venues such as Jacob’s Pillow, The Yard, Silver Springs Convention Center, Boston’s Paramount Theater, ICA Boston, Boston Center for the Arts, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Harlem School of the Arts, and Arrow Street Arts. JAE's educational outreach includes programs in Boston and a free Summer Dance Institute in Port-au-Prince, which Appolon started in 2006. Recently, these initiatives have expanded to the Dominican Republic. In 2025, JAE will open a new Dance Center in Nubian Square, Roxbury, furthering its mission to celebrate the joy of dance across diverse communities.
