It was here that he received his first of George Balanchine’s neo-classical style, through works choreographed for Philadanco by founding members of the New York City Ballet, William Dollar and Roy Tobias.

[2] Through a four-year scholarship, he studied with, and performed works by, choreographers Antony Tudor, Paul Taylor, José Limón, Anna Sokolow, Kazuko Hirabayashi, Alfredo Corvino, and Hector Zaraspe.

Under the tutelage of Arthur Mitchell, Dance Theatre of Harlem's founder and artistic director, he rose through the ranks to become a principal dancer, featured in a wide variety of roles and repertory, including George Balanchine (The Four Temperaments, Agon, Serenade, Allegro Brillante), Jerome Robbins (Opus Jazz, Fancy Free), Garth Fagan (Footprints Dressed in Red), Alvin Ailey (The River), Alonzo King (Signs and Wonders), and Billy Wilson (Concerto in F).

Garland is a recipient of the Building Brick Award from the New York Chapter of the National Urban League, and is a member of the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, where Calvin O. Butts III is pastor.

Recently he choreographed a work for Misty Copeland, performed by her and her partner Matthew Prescott, appearing at the Vail International Dance Festival, and the Gala of Stars in Cincinnati, Ohio.

For San Francisco Ballet's 2023 next@90 festival, Garland choreographed a piece set to Mozart's Haffner Serenade with a mix of classical and West African-influenced steps.