Jamal Wade is a director and choreographer who believes movement is just the first sentence of a much larger story. Originally from Baton Rouge, his artistic spark ignited early at McKinley Middle Magnet School, where he juggled art, piano, and dance. While he formally cut his teeth on scholarship with the Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre and under the mentorship of Debbie Allen, it was during his BFA studies at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) that he realized dance was merely the catalyst for a wider visual appetite. He didn’t just want to be in the picture; he wanted to frame it.

​

After a 5 year run in the immersive world of Iris Company and contributing to projects for the LA Opera, the VMA's, and Beyonce's "The Gift", Jamal pivoted to the director’s chair. He has since choreographed for artists like Ari Lennox and Krewella and directed music videos for Lady London, Tinashe, and Willie Jones—whose video "American Dream" earned a CMT Music Award nomination for Video of the Year. In 2021, Jamal stood out as the only American finalist in Papaya’s Young Directors competition.

​

Recently trading Los Angeles for the energy of New York City, Jamal is expanding his narrative scope. He currently produces the Game Changer Podcast with WNBA champion Shay Murphy and is developing original narrative short films, including the Black queer-centered anthology, home, Away.

​

As a queer Black artist, Jamal strives to create work that empowers underrepresented voices and expands our collective empathy. When he isn’t behind a camera or crafting a script, he is shaping the next generation as a professor in the Digital Content Creation Department at AMDA and serving as Program Coordinator for The Swan Within, a non-profit bringing ballet and mentorship to incarcerated and foster care youth.