Five years ago, Jose “Hollywood” Ramos reminded us to celebrate our individuality. And when we asked what his life motto was, he said “follow your dreams and keep being positive.” Well, we can tell he’s been following his own advice because we’ve watched Hollywood’s career as a choreographer in the dance industry continue to flourish. […]
It’s safe to say that choreographer Tessandra Chavez is a living dance legend. Not only has she offered her knowledge as a teacher at countless dance studios and conventions around the world, but her work has graced the stages of nearly every dance TV show you can think of, from “So You Think You Can Dance” […]
Pam Tanowitz’s dances are a lot like diamonds: They dazzle with compositional brilliance, reveal even more facets when you look closer, and are the products of an unusually intense creative force. Growing up in The Bronx, NY, Tanowitz trained at the Steffi Nossen School of Dance before getting a BFA from Ohio State University and […]
Brian Friedman is not only a legend in his own right—he’s also worked beside the biggest legends in the business. Growing up a Scottsdale, AZ, comp kid, Friedman was soon dancing behind Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, and Paula Abdul, and as an OG Newsie in the 1992 film. Now he calls the shots: He’s choreographed […]
Spencer Liff knows how to perform under pressure. Over nine seasons of “So You Think You Can Dance,” the Broadway wunderkind has dreamed up number after Emmy-nominated number within the show’s punishing under-a-week rehearsal period. You might not realize from watching his fast-paced, endlessly inventive numbers that “SYTYCD” was Liff’s first solo choreographic gig, coming […]
Since founding her company, NYC-based Dorrance Dance, in 2011, Michelle Dorrance has won one major award after another, starting with a Bessie and culminating in 2015’s MacArthur Fellowship. Like most tappers, she’s quick to cite the legends and masters who came before her. But Dorrance’s belief in the power of tap has helped her carve […]
Al Blackstone is one of the fastest-rising choreographers in the industry, creating one successful piece after another. After making his Broadway debut as a dancer in Wicked, Blackstone won the 2011 Capezio A.C.E. Award for Choreographic Excellence, which gave him the opportunity to direct and choreograph a full-length production, Happy We’ll Be. For the last […]
“Dancing with the Stars” pro Derek Hough gets around. This year alone, in addition to the work he did on Seasons 18 and 19 of “DWTS,” he starred in both a national tour (MOVE Live on Tour with his sister, Julianne Hough) and in the hip-hop dance film Make Your Move. He even choreographed a […]