Skip to Content Skip to Navigation

Compton Dance Theatre Fdtn.& Bristol Contemporary Dance Co.: Biographies

Carol Bristol-Henry - Artistic Director & Founder

Carol Bristol-Henry is a dancer, choreographer, educator and artistic consultant. She studied dance at Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. She holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Howard University and a Masters degree in Dance and Dance Education from New York University. Her performance credits include “Bill Cosby’s Salute to Alvin Ailey”, “Shades of Harlem”, and a principal role in Langston Hughes’ “Black Nativity”. She has worked with numerous dance and theatre companies throughout the United States. Moreover, she has received awards and national recognition in choreography from The National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, New York University’s Lorraine Hansberry Fine Arts Award, a nomination from the NAACP as Best Choreographer, and a Certificate of Congressional Recognition for Artistic Contributions to the community.

Mrs. Bristol-Henry has served as an Adjunct Professor in the Dance Department of University of California - Irvine, California State University - Dominguez Hills, and West Los Angeles College. She is also the Artistic Director for Compton Dance Theatre bringing 30 years of experience as a dancer and 20 years of experience as a dance educator to the training program.

Demar Braxton - Associate Director (At-Large) & Choreographer

Demar Braxton studied dance at The Ailey School. He has performed with Genesis Dance Company, Contemporary Ballet Theater, Louis Johnson Dance Theater, Alpha Omega Dance Company, and the Eleo Pomare Dance Company. He has also performed in the following musicals: Purlie, Dreamgirls, West Side Story, and The Wiz. Demar Braxton teaches modern at Compton Dance Theatre and serves as the Assistant Director to CDT's Professional Company.

Board Members

Carol Bristol-Henry, Chairperson
(Bio Above)

Anika Warren, Ph.D., President
Catalyst, Director of Research
Columbia University - Teachers College, Professor

Adrienne Malka, Vice President & Treasurer
UCLA, Manager Employee Disability Management Services
UCLA, Ethnic Arts B.A.

Mikael Randolph, Secretary
University of Southern California,
MBA Candidate