Dezwuan Wilford

Transit Arts Performer

About Dezwuan:

Dezwuan Wilford, born in Charleston, WV, moved to Columbus when he was 11 years old. He is now 19, attended East High School, and is completing his degree through ECOT. He first started dancing when he was 8 years old when he saw Michael Jackson dancing on TV and was further inspired by the movie “You Got Served”. He first saw BHB dance when he was 12 and has been studying Hip Hop dance with BHB since he was 14. He also is a writer and has studied with Jai Carey, Barbara Fant, and Speak Williams. He is a gifted visual artist and has studied and performed live painting with master artist, Richard Duarte Brown. He has also studied airbrush painting with Aaron “Monastic” Thomas and Craig Gardner. He was commissioned by the United Way Neighborhood Partnership Program to create the program cover for the 2010 Neighborhood Partnership Celebration. He has exhibited artwork at the State Office Tower, Black Creek Bistro, and Mad Lab Theatre. He has also performed dance, spoken word, and live painting with the TRANSIT ARTS Performance Group at numerous venues including: COSI, The Ohio Statehouse, The Urban League, King Arts Complex, Global Gallery International Festival, Comfest, HotTimes Festival, Community Shelter Board, First Night Columbus, The Columbus Arts Festival, Hip Hop Expo, and with BHB at the Circleville Jr. Correctional Facility. His goal is to receive his High School Diploma and study dance, art, design, and music at the Julliard School in New York. He is an outgoing person who enjoys cheering people up. This is what he wants to tell younger kids: “I would ask why you would change who you are for someone else when you don’t know them that well and why would you be a follower instead of a leader? Crime is not the way to go. Families wouldn’t be getting hurt and people wouldn’t have to be burying their babies. He would love to see people be placed in a victim’s shoes so they could see what it’s like to bury a loved one. The arts can provide good role models for children to help them better themselves and live life to the fullest. People smoke pot or drink to relieve stress. They have too much going on in their lives and they don’t know what to do so they turn to other things. People could create a hobby as an alternative to help them feel like themselves. I think a way to bring the generations together  is to show an interest in each other’s point of view instead of just arguing over whatever goes on in daily life. It’s a good thing to have an older person teaching us right from wrong – someone who really cares enough to expect more from us. ” When asked, “What’s it like to feel like yourself?” he replied,  “It feels good to not have to change for anyone and to feel comfortable with myself. Some ways to relieve stress are drawing, making music, writing, and dancing (painting a vivid picture with your body). Others could be cooking or gardening.