Vernon D. Gooden, a Dallas,Texas native, is an emerging choreographer, performer, and teacher now residing in Chicago, IL. Mr. Gooden began dancing at the age of 11. As a 2001 graduate of the acclaimed Booker T. Washington High School For The Performing Visual Arts. He received a Level I ranking by the National Foundation For The Advancement In The Arts for college scholarship for high school seniors. Mr. Gooden later was nominated by NFAA and was named by The White House Commission a 2001 Presidential Scholar in the Arts. Mr. Gooden later trained at The Juilliard School under the direction of the late Benjamin Harkarvy and Larry Rhodes. He have performed with noted companies such as Paul Taylor 2 Dance Company, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theatre, Joel Hall and Dancers, Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre, and Winifred Haun & Dancers. He has performed works of noted choreographers such as Paul Taylor, Katherine Dunham, Donald McKayle, Bill T. Jones, Milton Myers, Cleo Parker Robinson, Nai-Ni Chen, Adam Houghland, Jessica Lang, Christopher Huggins, Kevin Iega Jeff, and Winifred Haun. Mr. Gooden is excited to be joining Chicago Repertory Ballet as a Guest Artist for 2022 Season.