VIDEO
Cameron Terry’s creative process begins with music — listening, visualizing, and asking what story he is ready to share with the world. His work is shaped by memory, intuition, and the moment we are living in, guided by what feels urgent, necessary, and true. Each creation grows through collaboration, with dancers bringing their own artistry, presence, and lived experience into the process. Together, they shape the work you see onstage. The pieces below trace the evolution of Shades Dance Theater across the years — a living archive of where the company has been and where it is going.
“Make no mistake a new generation is here” - ArtsATL
WORK IN PROGRESS (2026)
Artistic Director Cameron Terry explores the inspiration behind THE RETURN what it means to bring Shades back to Atlanta
JIGGA MAN (2026)
Set to some of Jay-Z’s most iconic tracks, Jigga Man is a fearless response to every hater and naysayer. Moving like a choreographic diss track, the work turns swagger into stamina through fast, sharp, rhythmically exacting choreography. SHADES takes the stage with confidence—and leaves no question about who wears the crown.
SERENADE (2026)
Part of the love suite Tell Me That You Love Me, Serenade brings romance and devotion to the stage through the rich harmonies of Boyz II Men. A heartfelt expression of love, the work turns movement into a declaration.
RED VELVET (2026)
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Marvin Gaye’s I Want You, Red Velvet blends classic soul with today’s sounds in Cameron Terry’s signature style. Lush, sensual, and magnetic, the work brings old school and new school together through intimate, expressive choreography..
THE ELEMENTS (2024)
The Elements is one of the most technically demanding works in Shades Dance Theater’s repertory, featuring over 300 lighting cues. Set to the jazzy funk of Earth, Wind & Fire and Teena Marie, the work pulsed with rhythm and precision. Terry credited Talley Beatty’s The Stack-Up as a key inspiration for its creation.
ANGELS dancing at the gates of heaven (2024)
Angels Dancing at the Gates of Heaven is a deeply moving story of grief and loss, featuring music by Lisa Gerrard. Created in honor of loved ones lost, the work invites audiences to see themselves in shared sorrow and healing. An expanded version of a solo first created in 2021, it became one of Shades Dance Theater’s most emotional and resonant works.
Mt. Ephraim, named for the church Cameron Terry grew up in, explored memory, faith, and the gospel traditions of the Black church in the Deep South. Rooted in praise, worship, and spiritual lineage, the work reflected reverence, community, and inheritance. It was set to the music of Mahalia Jackson and Ricky Dillard.
MT. EPHRAIM (2024)
MR. & MR. POPPY (2023)
Mr. & Mr. Poppy was first created in 2019 and completed in 2023 for Shades Dance Theater’s Love, Fantasy, and Euphoria. The work is the company’s first LGBTQ+ love story and a celebration of Black male love. Exploring softness, discovery, and tenderness, it has become one of Shades’ fan favorites.
KISSING YOU (2023)
Kissing You tells the story of two lovers brought together for what may be their final meeting. Set as a neo-classical pas de deux, the work captivated audiences with its tenderness, intimacy, and emotional ambiguity, becoming a Shades Dance Theater fan favorite.