Omari Contaste was born in Brooklyn, NY, into a musically inclined family. His childhood involved dancing to soca and reggae outside his dad’s record shop, performing on steelpan, and receiving a diverse dance education in high school from Patricia Dye.
His training began in summer 2010 with the award-winning Forces of Nature Dance Theater, where he debuted in May 2012, apprenticed until 2016, and became a company member in 2016.
He graduated from Goucher College in May 2014 with a double major in Dance/Choreography and Psychology and attended the Dance Theater of Harlem Summer Intensive in July 2014 before moving to VA for Charlottesville Ballet (2014-2016). He furthered his studies at the Martha Graham Winter Intensive (January 2023), Steps on Broadway, Peridance Center, and Ballet Somatics with Deidre Neal. After four years serving NYC youth with the Department of Education, he is now a full-time artist, performing, choreographing, and teaching with multiple dance companies, including his own.
He regularly collaborates with Warwick Dance Collective and Emotions Physical Theatre and creates an annual original play/dance with Sense of Wonder Summer Camp in Martha’s Vineyard.
Contaste’s accolades include a 2025 LMCC grant for his company, Ekundayo Contemporary Arts, and a recent collaboration with the NY Philharmonic through the Unsung Collective Choir.
Additional certifications include NASM: Certidied Personal Trainer, Stretch & Flexibility Coach, Nutrition Coach, Corrective Exercise and Performance Enhancement; and Polestar Comprehensive Pilates, February 2026.
Contaste’s dance lineage includes:
Dr. Patricia Dye, Baba Abdel Salaam, Oumie Dyane Harvey-Salaam, Esther Grant Walker, Dr. Baba Chuck Davis, Mama Dana Mano McBroom, Mama Wilhelmina Taylor, Deidre Neal, Kathy Ferguson, Chris Flemming, Elizabeth Ahearn, and more.