#artthatelevates

Our History

Gentry Isaiah George and Tyler Garacci, Co-Founders
Photo by Eduardo Patino

Zest Collective was founded on November 02, 2013, by Gentry Isaiah George and Tyler Garacci. George and Garacci created Zest to promote collaborative opportunities for young performing and visual Artists in NYC's Washington Heights Neighborhood.

The company's premiere performance was on March 13, 2014, at MIST, presented by the Harlem Arts Festival. In New York, the company has performed at SummerStage, Wassaic Project, HarlemStage’s Gatehouse Theater, Ulster Performing Arts Center, and more. In 2020, the company went under a hiatus in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The company re-emerged in 2022, debuting at the Adrienne Arsht Center of Miami-Dade County in a new production of Piano Slam, presented by Dranoff 2 Piano - Choreographed and Directed by Gentry Isaiah George. Zest now thrives in South Florida and continues to create movement literature that speaks to the diversity of our world.

Photography by Felix Kunze, David Tufino, Scott Shaw, Armando Colls, Gregory Reed, Cody Perkins

Leadership

Artist Statement

“Experiencing dance has always allowed me to learn about uncommon pasts and cultures while simultaneously discovering countless expressions of the present. As a choreographer, my mission has always been tripartite: to celebrate the world's diversity through dance, to create original works that foster collaboration, and to expand access to the arts.

After graduating from the Juilliard School, I began my career performing with Ailey II of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and later with Dance Theatre of Harlem, under the direction of Virginia Johnson. In 2013 I started Zest Collective to create and promote collaborative opportunities for young performing and visual artists.

My work combines my professional experience in ballet and explores the relationship between cultural events, historical literature, and contemporary music through dance. My mission is to bring value and appreciation of art and dance to audiences worldwide.”

Gentry Isaiah George

Our Mission

What Do We Do?

Our dance artists use their bodies as the primary medium of storytelling. Our work is punctuated by poetry and iconic speeches about abandoning fear and emphasizes man's sensitivity to the pangs of life. We hope our movement will encourage people worldwide to translate their dreams into creative, purposeful lives.

Gentry Isaiah George, Deja Darbonne, Diana Figueroa, Kiera O’Rourke, Maryann Arnita Benjamin, and Eleni Gialas
Piano Slam 2022, Presented by Dranoff 2 Piano and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County

The Neighborhood

Our Dream

We aim to become a leading global touring company and open the Zest Collective Performing Arts Center in Miami. Our mission is to celebrate the diversity of our community, inspire the next generation of performing artists, and foster collaborative works between artists and organizations in South Florida.