YVETTE L. CAMPBELL
BIOGRAPHY

Ms. Campbell assumed leadership of the Harlem School of the Arts on January 18, 2011. She served as Director of the Ailey Extension for more than five years, which she named, developed and managed from its inception. This continuing education program was launched in April 2005 with the opening of Ailey’s new home to generate revenue, and has served more than 42,000 adult students and has enjoyed average annual compounded growth of 50% over four years.

A native of California, Ms. Campbell became passionate about dance at The University of California at Berkeley where she graduated with a degree in Applied Mathematics and Dramatic Art–Dance. At Berkeley, she performed and toured Europe with the university’s dance company under the direction of David Wood, former Martha Graham rehearsal director and where she won the university's highest honor in dance, The Eisner Prize.

Ms. Campbell came to The Ailey School as a scholarship student more than 20 years ago to finish her dance training and performed with Ailey II. During a recovery from a dance injury, Ms. Campbell worked as the interim School Administrator for the Ailey School, working closely with mentor Denise Jefferson, Director of the Ailey School, and trained 3 successive School Administrators. After leaving Ailey, Ms. Campbell danced with Elisa Monte Dance for six years as a principal, touring over 26 countries. In 2000, Ms. Campbell officially retired from performing and moved to London with her family where she spent four years teaching and choreographing. During this time, she also performed as a guest artist at The Barbican Theatre in London with Wynton Marsalis and JazzXchange, a London-based dance company. Board experience included over 10 years serving as a board member for JazzXchange in London and Elisa Monte Dance in New York City.