Marquis Floyd

Marquis entered this world with rhythm in his spirit and purpose in his stride. From his earliest days in Clearwater, Florida, his light shined brightly curious, driven, and full of heart. At just ten years old, Marquis made a choice that would shape the course of his life. He traded football cleats for dance shoes. What began as a simple decision became a lifelong devotion. 

He nurtured his gift at John Hopkins Middle School and the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School. He spent many summers refining his craft at Alonzo King LINES Ballet in San Francisco. His talent matched by unwavering discipline and humility, carried him to The Boston Conservatory where he graduated Suma Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Contemporary Dance with an emphasis in Ballet. He was awarded the Gene Kelly Scholarship by the Dizzy Feet Foundation. 

In 2010 Marquis joined the Kali Kali Dance Company as one of the first male dancers when the company became co-ed. Over the years he grew within the company to be a Lead Dancer, Choreographer and held the Artist Director position for over 10 years. Throughout his time he taught generations of dancers and heavily impacted their abilities to reach their creative goals. 

He danced with: Disney’s The Lion King North American Rafiki Tour, Bad Boys of Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, The Arthur Mitchell Project, Dundu Dole Urban African Ballet Company and Kali Kali Dance Company. He moved audiences as a soloist in pieces like Winds of Now, Ballad Unto, Nest, Why You Follow, and Black Iris Project, collaborating with some of the most respected choreographers in the field. His performances on global stages included the Super Bowl LV Halftime Show with The Weekend, the MTV Video Music Awards with Lil Nas X, and appearances with the Metropolitan Opera.

Marquis is forever in our hearts and will also be remembered in the Kali family. His legacy will never be forgotten.