Johnnie Cruise Mercer is a maker, freelance-performer, community facilitator, and artistic entrepreneur based in New York City. As the Choreographic/Company Director of Johnnie Cruise Mercer/TheREDprojectNYC, Mr. Mercer is currently two years smack dead in the middle of six-year curated process-anthology. Using the years 2000-2020 as subjective/objective inspiration, himself, and the collaborators of tRpnyc engage the past/present intimately as they conjure through a series of happenings, process-oriented performances (process-memoirs), and ritualistic journeys. The labor and material from the six-year process will cumulate towards the construction of two epic works set to premiere post-2020. 

Previous process memoirs, happenings, and material  have been commissioned/shared at the 92Y Harkness Dance Center, BAX- Brooklyn Arts Exchange, The NADA Conference, Abrons Arts Center, The Fusebox Festival (which received the 2018 Austin Critics Table Award for Best Toured Performance),  The 14streetY (presented by Zullo Raw Movement), NYU Tisch Jack Crystal Theater, and most recently in Danspace Project’s Winter 2019 Season (commissioned in partnership between The Stephen Petronio Residency Center, Danspace Project’s Commissioning Program, and New York State Danceforce). As an artistic facilitator/educator, Mr. Mercer has facilitated/teaches within the New York Public School system through The Leadership Program- a mentorship-based organization that uses art to foster/engage restorative justice and motivate the true empowerment of self. Mercer has also been on teaching faculty/a guest artist at The American Dance Festival, Bates Dance Festival, PRATT Institute, NYU Tisch Summer Dance Program, Gibney, University of Massachusetts Amherst, DeSales University, Muhlenberg College, and the University of Texas at Austin (in residence as their 2016 Vanguard Choreographer).  

Mercer is excited to continue with the fifth installment of his six-year process at Dixon Place this summer as a part of the renowned HOT! Festival. He is eager to take this personal solo journey in the form of  Process memoir 5: The indigo kid. 

Find out more about him on Instagram.