Kenneth D. "Ken" Ard (born June 30, 1960) is an American dancer, choreographer, actor and singer.
Ard was born inOakland, California in 1960. His mother exposed him to jazz through frequent visits to musical in San Francisco and Oakland. Ard also proved to be an especially good gymnast, winning the California youth gymnastics championship at 16.[1]
After dancing at theOakland Ballet andSan Francisco Ballet, he was approached byJon Hendricks for a lead role in his show,Evolution of the Blues, to be presented in theGolden Gate Theatre in San Francisco.
He is openly gay and married to puppeteerBasil Twist[2]
Ard was asked to choreograph for shows inHawaii. WhenAlvin Ailey came to Hawaii, he asked Ard to dance in hisAmerican Dance Theater. But after a few months, Ard missed the dynamic of the combination of song and dance, and auditioned for a Broadway show for which he was selected,Cats (in which he originated the role of Macavity),Starlight Express (in which he originated the role of Electra),Song and Dance,Jelly's Last Jam andSmokey Joe's Cafe.
Ard appeared in the 2002 filmChicago and 1996 filmSeven Servants. byDaryush Shokof.
Ard collaborated with many of Europe's notable jazz artists. The beginning of 2009 marked the release ofBallads, Blues & Cocktails, Ard's first jazz CD.[3]
Ard teaches jazz dance and musical dance at the Frank Sanders Musical Academy andCodarts in theNetherlands. Since 2014, he has also taught at theAlvin Ailey American Dance Theater.[4]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Seven Servants | African Man | |
| 2002 | Chicago | Wilbur |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | New Amsterdam | Mason | Episode: "Every Last Minute" |
| 2020 | Stars in the House | N/a | Episode: "Smokey Joe's Cafe Reunion" |
| 2020 | Wait in the Wings | Electra | Episode: "The Painful Spectacle of Starlight Express" |
