Originally from New York, Curtis began performing nationally at age eleven and began formal dance training at age 19. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, summa cum laude, in Modern Dance/Dance Science and Injury Prevention from Brockport College. Focusing mainly on choreography, Curtis studied closely with mentor Susannah Newman (former dancer of the José Limón Company) and creator, designer, and costumer Peter Garrow, who both served as great influences throughout his training. While at Brockport, he received a full scholarship to the American Dance Festival at Duke University, where he studied and performed the works of such esteemed teachers and choreographers as José Limón, Betty Jones, Lisa Race, David Dorfman, Paul Taylor, David Parsons, and Mark Morris.
As a choreographer, Curtis’ work has been shown throughout the United States and most recently in Europe, where it received great acclaim from the government of Spain. His choreography has received recognition in Dance Magazine as a stand out for its exceptional use of space layered with visceral movement and a keen sense of musicality. “Uhlemann truly encompasses the triad of vocabulary, spatial patterns and performance which promises to yield the highest quality of dance artistry.” In 2012 his work was selected as finalist in the 2012 MacCallum Choreography Festival in Palm Springs, CA. Most recently he was awarded, along with his ARCOS co-directors, residency at three prestigious programs for the 2014-2015 season: Playa Fellowship Residency (OR), UCROSS Foundation (WY), and the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts (NE).
An educator for sixteen years, Curtis employs a dynamic teaching method developed to cultivate and invigorate dance students through a blend of advanced technical skills and experimental choreography. He has had the distinct privilege of working with over one thousand students nationally and internationally, many of whom have continued their education at such highly recognized arts institutions as NYU Tisch, Cal Arts, University of Arizona, Boston Conservatory, Utah State, Florida State University, New World, North Carolina School for the Arts, Cornish College, and University of Texas-Austin among others.
Curtis toured the United States teaching and performing for the duration of eleven years and has served as a choreographer and designer for over twenty different performance ensembles including the ten time world champions The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps and most recently for the 2016 BLAST! Disney production. He is one of the original creators of ARCOS Dance.
