I began my professional career in New York performing with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company and then became a principal dancer with the Viola Farber Dance Company. In CA. I was artistic director/choreographer of Jeff Slayton & Dancers, then full-professor at California State University, Long Beach. I was married to Viola Farber for 9 years, and after her death in 1998, I decided that a book should be written about her life, her works and the contributions she made to the dance community and to the art form. My book, The Prickly Rose: A Biography of Viola Farber, was released in December 2006 by AuthorHouse. I am presently writing about my career, my battle with depression, and how dancing saved my life. I am currently choreographing a new work titled "Inventory" for the Los Angeles based Vox Dance Theater. The premiere performance is scheduled for the spring of 2008 in LA. I will also be choreographying a new work for the Fort Worth Contemporary Dance Company this summer (2008).

Shared gold medal with Viola Farber in 1972 at the Nineth International Dance Festival in Paris, France for "Creativity and Expression."

Several National Endowment for the Arts grants for choreography.

Outstanding Professor in Teaching Award at California State University, Long Beach in 1991.

Panelist for the California Arts Council Dance Touring Program for two years, and for the Dance Touring Program of the National Endowment for the Arts for one year.