Jelani Taylor is a dancer and choreographer from Virginia Beach, Virginia, currently working out of New York City. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) with a B.F.A in Dance and Choreography (2019). While at VCU Jelani was the recipient of VCU's African American Studies Department’s “Black History in the Making” Award. Since then, Jelani has performed in work by Nathan Trice, Sinclair O’Gaga, and Mariah Lopez. Jelani founded Era Dance Company in 2019. A project-based contemporary dance company to house his creative work. Jelani’s choreography has been showcased nationally at Inside/Out at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, the International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference (IABD), National Dance Society Conference (NDS), and various venues in Virginia and New York City. Most recently, Jelani and Era Dance Company were artist/company in residence at Norfolk State University and he is currently an Artist in Residence at Green Space Studio.