1997
Mantua Steppers Drill Team
Iquail and Terrence Gasking found the Mantua Steppers Drill Team as a program in partnership with the Mantua Haverford Community Center under the executive direction of Richard Purdie. Today, the program is known as Mantua's Most Majestic and serves 100 Mantua youth.
Iquail enrolls at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts
1999
Iquail creates his first work: "Stand"
2006
Iquail joins the Ailey School Faculty
At the recommendation of Tracy Inman and Melanie Person, Iquail was invited by Denise Jefferson to join the faculty of the Ailey School in the Horton Department. Subsequently, he joined the faculty of the newly formed Ailey Extension at the request of then director Yvette Campbell.
Introducing The Iquail Johnson Dance Theater
Iquail forms the first iteration of the company, The Iquail Johnson Dance Theater, at the invitation to perform at the Dancing Under the Stars Choreography Festival.
2007
10th Annual Dancing Under The Stars Choreography Festival
Iquail’s work Condemned was selected for the Dancing Under the Stars Festival and won the Larry and Suzzane Engman second place award. Thanks to his friend Stepp Steward who loaned the Company $5,000 to travel from NYC to Palm Desert, California.
Performers included: Ally Love, William Credell, Zola Williams, Allison Sale, Daniel Harder, Salaam, Major Nesby Renold Garder, Karama Butler
2008
First Appearance at NYC Summerstage
DANCE IQUAIL! receives it first presenting relationship with the invitation of Danni Gee to perform at Summerstage in the Bronx alongside Dayton Contemporary Dance company.
Program included:
Moments by Eric Rivera
Mood by Hope Boykin and Matthew Rushing
Performers included: Ashley Mayieux, Eriko Iisaku, Allison Sale, Hassan Ingraham
Jamaica Residency with Tony Wilson Dancers
Iquail Johnson Dance Theater becomes DANCE IQUAIL!
DANCE IQUAIL! is incorporated in New York State with the help of long term supporter, Donaldine Temple, esq, and Josh and Sidley Austin LLP.
2012
Iquail teaches in Cape Town with Cape Academy
2013
5th Anniversary Concert
DANCE IQUAIL! celebrates its 5th anniversary, presented by Kumble Theater in Brooklyn, NY. Performers include Ryan Houston, Winston D Brown, Allison Sale, Aqura Lacy, Morgan Anderson, Randall Riley Adirenne Chu, jovan, and Eriko Iisaku.
Return to Summerstage
Invitation of Danni Gee to perform at summerstage in Queensbourg Bridge.
NAISDA Dance College Australia
Iquail Joins the faculty at the National Aboriginal and Islander School of Dance Arts in Australia. NAISDA Dance College was founded by Philadelphian native Carole Johnson.
First Golden Bash Gala at Harlem School for The Arts
2014
First Appearance At Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival
Performers include Ari Mayziek, Morgan Anderson, Adama Ra, Sarah Busanco, Kelly March IV and Iquail Shaheed
DANCE IQUAIL! receives Pew Center for Arts and Heritage Grant
2015
Black Ballerina Symposium
Harlem Arts Alliance + Dance/USA and DANCE IQUAIL! collaborate to present the Black Ballerina Symposium at Riverside Church, in the months before Misty Copeland was promoted to the First Black Female Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theatre.
Premiere of Dr. Iquail Shaheed's "Black Swan"
World premiere of "Pushers" at the Painted Bride Art Center
Supported by the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, DI premieres the new work and officially moves home to Mantua, Philadelphia, PA.
2016
Joins the Board of the International Association of Blacks in Dance
At the recommendation of Joan Myers Brown and Cleo Parker Robinson, Iquail was invited by Denise Sauders Thompson, to join the board of IABD.
2019
First Grant from New England foundation for the Arts
To support the development and creation of a work title Public Enemy, the third full-length work choreographed by Dr. Iquail Shaheed
East Africa Tour first time in Africa
Golden Bash anniversary gala In Philadelphia
2020
World Premiere of FLY at the International Association of Blacks in Dance conference Philadelphia
Art Thrives from Black Lives Rally and protest (now Celebrate Mantua)
DANCE IQUAIL receives a National Performance Network Grant
2021
First Major Grant
Dance Iquail received its first major Multiyear Grant from the Mellon Foundation
2022
$100,000 Award
Art for Justice Fund Award in support of our work with incarceration populations
DANCE IQUAIL! Featured in Dance Magazine
The First To Do It.
Iquail becomes the first Black Man to graduate with a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in dance from Texas Woman’s University - the nation's first and oldest PhD Dance program.
2023
World Premiere of Public Enemy at the Ailey Citigroup Theater
2024
$1,000,000.00 Budget
2025
Second National Dance Projects Grant
Iquail receives a "Joanie Award"
The 2025 “Joanie” awards/awardees named for the Incomparable Joan Myers Brown, Founder of The Philadelphia Dance Company - PHILADANCO! From left to right are: Anthony Burrell, George Faison, Ronald K. Brown, Spencer Wertheimer, Ryan Fluer, Chantee Andrews, Iquail Shaheed, and Mary Hurtig. The Philadelphia Dance Company. headquarters. 9. N. Preston Street in Philadelphia, in the Marion D Cuyjet Studio.