In 1994, Complexions Contemporary Ballet was formed by Desmond Richardson and Dwight Rhoden. The company sought to diverge from the hetero-normative black masculinity of the "Soul" aesthetic that was cultivated in companies such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. The company, rather, produced its own "Post-Soul" aesthetic rooted in black exploration and individual eccentricity. Through Richardson's and Rhoden's direction, Complexions introduced heterogeneity into American concert dance with their emphasis on gender ambivalence and the plurality of race, sexuality, and dance formality.