Doug Varone

Doug Varone was born in 1956 in Syosset, NY.

He studied step dance as a child for nine years, and debuted as a six year-old as one of the Lost Children in a step-dance production of Peter Pan. As a boy he continued step dancing and in 1974 began his training as a classical and modern ballet dancer at NYU’s Purchase College with Mel Wong and Royce Fernandez. Later on he studied ballet with Maggie Black and Zena Rommett. After graduating, he danced in José Limón’s company in 1978-79. In 1979-86, he danced in Lar Lubovitch’s company.

In 1986, Varone left Lobovitch’s company and founded Doug Varone and Dancers (DV&D) in New York, where he is active to this day. His choreographies for the company include: Cantata 78 (1986), Possession (1995), Tomorrow (2000), Boats Leaving (2006), Dense Terrain (2007).  The company performed throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, including the cities of New York, San Francisco, London, Toronto, Moscow, Buenos Aires and Tokyo.

While working for his own company, Varone also choreographed for many others, including Limón’s company, Rambert Dance Company, Martha Graham Dance Company, Colorado Ballet, DanceMakers (Canada), Bern Ballet (Switzerland), An Creative (Japan), and Batsheva. He choreographed Diluvium (1988) for Batsheva, which also danced three of his dances for DV&D: Cantata 78, Taken to Pieces (1988), Voix Bulgare (1989).

Varone is active as a director and choreographer of fashion and TV productions, as well as operas in opera houses worldwide, including the Metropolitan, Opera Colorado, and Minnesota Opera.
Varone is the recipient of numerous awards, including a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, an OBIE Award, two individual Bessie Awards, and four National Dance Project Awards.