Choreographers
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Choreographers are the creative administrators of any activity or piece in a motion, like a dance or theater choreography. They are in charge of designing the structure of the piece, the notations, the narration, the specification of movements and finally, provide their support in the execution of the composition. Nowadays, choreographers are found in a range of other fields other than dance including ice skating, choirs, theatre, synchronized sports, cheerleading, cinematography and gymnastics. Dance choreography, specifically known as dance composition, is one of the largest originators of choreographers, who specialize in a plethora of dance forms including jazz, ballet, contemporary, Latin American dances, folk dances, classical dances, Oriental dance forms etc. In dance choreography, choreographers are given the responsibility of designing a dance piece, arranging the sequence of steps, understanding the dancers’ weaknesses and strengths, honing the dancers’ skills and extracting the best from them in a composition. This is either done by applying either one or two of the basic choreographic methods viz., improvisation or planned choreography. Popular choreographers include Debbie Allen, Bob Avian, Lea Anderson, Fred Astaire and Paula Abdul to name a few. Scroll down for a more comprehensive list of choreographers. Explore details about them in their biographies, which include trivia, interesting facts, timeline and life history.
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1
Michael Jackson(One of the Most Significant Cultural Figures of the 20th Century Popularly Known as the 'King of Pop')
Birthdate: August 29, 1958
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Gary, Indiana, United States
Died: June 25, 2009
The King of Pop and an international superstar, Michael Jackson was a musical entertainer whose work – both with Jackson 5 and solo – won accolades and hearts worldwide. Equally popular were his unique dance moves that created sensation and shaped future dance styles. Amongst the most successful entertainers of all time, Jackson was later accused of child molestation.
Birthdate: May 10, 1899
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Died: June 22, 1987
Fred Astaire was an American actor, television presenter, dancer, choreographer, and singer. Widely regarded as the most influential dancer in film history, Astaire was known for his innovation, perfectionism, and an uncanny sense of rhythm. Also known for his fashion sense, Fred Astaire remained a male fashion icon throughout his career, which spanned more than seven decades.
Birthdate: August 23, 1912
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: February 2, 1996
Actor, dancer, singer, and filmmaker, Gene Kelly, was one of the most popular Hollywood figures in the 1940s and 1950s. Among his other achievements, he is credited to have popularized the genre of musical films in Hollywood. As a filmmaker, he often experimented with camera techniques and special effects. He received an Academy Honorary Award in 1952.
4
Bob Fosse(American Choreographer and Director Known for His Works ‘The Pajama Game’ and ‘Damn Yankees’)
Birthdate: June 23, 1927
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: September 23, 1987
Legendary dancer, choreographer, and director Bob Fosse is best remembered for his Academy Award-winning direction in the musical film Cabaret. Renowned for his signature “jazz hands” style, he also earned the Palme D'Or for All That Jazz and nine Tony Awards for various stage productions, eight of them for choreography.
Birthdate: January 27, 1948
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
Latvian-born Russian-American dancer and choreographer Mikhail Baryshnikov was a prominent male classical dancer of the 1970s and 1980s. Born in Latvian SSR, he moved to America where he joined the New York City Ballet. Within years, he became one of the most widely recognized contemporary ballet dancers in the world. He is also a dramatic actor.
6
Gregory Hines(Actor, Choreographer and One of the Most Celebrated Tap Dancers of All Time)
Birthdate: February 14, 1946
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: August 9, 2003
Gregory Hines is remembered as one of the greatest tap dancers in the world. His performance in the Broadway play Jelly's Last Jam won him a Tony and a Drama Desk award. He also won an Emmy for his voice role in Little Bill and hosted his own show.
7
Rudolf Nureyev(Choreographer & One of the Greatest Male Ballet Dancers of His Generation)
Birthdate: March 17, 1938
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Irkutsk, Russia
Died: January 6, 1993
Born into a Tatar Muslim family, Rudolf Nureyev grew up to gain fans both for his exceptional ballet skills and for his sharp cheek bones. One of the greatest male ballet dancers ever, he gained fame performing with stars such as Margot Fonteynhe. A closeted homosexual, he died of AIDS.
Birthdate: May 26, 1877
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States
Died: September 14, 1927
Isadora Duncan was a dancer acclaimed in USA, Europe, and the Soviet Union. Raised by a single mother, she grew up in poverty and started teaching dance to children to earn some money. She later joined Augustin Daly's theater company. Eventually, she opened her own dance schools to teach her unique philosophy and techniques to her students.
Birthdate: July 24, 1969
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Castle Hill, New York, United States
Jennifer Lopez established herself as the highest-paid Latin actress in Hollywood after starring in films such as Out of Sight, The Wedding Planner, Maid in Manhattan and Shall We Dance’. She is also an accomplished dancer and commercially very successful singer. She helped propel the Latin pop movement in American music. She is also a fashion designer and a businesswoman.
10
Benjamin Millepied(French Dancer and Choreographer Known for His Work in the Movie ‘Black Swan’)
Birthdate: June 15, 1977
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bordeaux, France
French dancer Benjamin Millepied was initially associated with the New York City Ballet. He launched the LA Dance Project and was the director of dance at the Paris Opera Ballet. He gained fame as the choreographer of the iconic movie Black Swan, and later married its lead actor, Natalie Portman.
11
Paula Abdul(Her Album 'Forever Your Girl' was One of The Most Successful Albums in 1988)
Birthdate: June 19, 1962
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: San Fernando, California, United States
Starting her career as a cheerleader, Paula Abdul went on to choreograph music videos for Janet Jackson. She then tried her hand at singing-songwriting and released a highly successful debut studio album. Also an award-winning actress, Paula was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She has also appeared in TV shows like American Idol.
Birthdate: July 20, 1988
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Orem, Utah, United States
Julianne Hough shot to fame with Dancing with the Stars, in 2007, and eventually won two seasons and returned as a judge. Fans also remember her as Sandy from Grease Live! She aced the U.S. Country charts with her debut album and was also a judge on America's Got Talent.
13
Martha Graham(Modern Dancer and Choreographer Known for Her 'Graham Technique' Style)
Birthdate: May 11, 1894
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: April 1, 1991
Martha Graham was a modern dancer and choreographer who revolutionized American dance. She developed what later became known as the Graham technique, a modern dance movement style and pedagogy. She had an extensive career spanning over 70 years. The Martha Graham School, founded in 1926, is the oldest school of dance in USA.
14
Derek Hough(Professional Dancer and Six Times Winner of the Dance Competition Series 'Dancing with the Stars')
Birthdate: May 17, 1985
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Derek Hough is an American Latin and ballroom dancer and choreographer. After winning the dance competition TV series, Dancing with the Stars, for a record six times, Hough used his popularity to launch his acting and singing career. Also a writer, his book Taking the Lead was featured in The New York Times Best Seller list.
15
Teyana Taylor(Singer-Songwriter Who Appeared on MTV's 'My Super Sweet 16')
Birthdate: December 10, 1990
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Harlem, New York, United States
R&B and hip-hop singer Teyana Taylor gained fame with MTV's My Super Sweet 16. She signed with Kanye West’s label and also appeared on the reality show Teyana and Iman, with her husband, NBA player Iman Shumpert. In December 2020, she announced her retirement from music through Instagram.
16
Debbie Allen
(Actress Best Known for Her Work in the Musical-Drama Television Series 'Fame')
Birthdate: January 16, 1950
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States
Debbie Allen is an actress, dancer, choreographer, and singer-songwriter. She appeared in the musical-drama TV series Fame and also worked as the series’ principal choreographer. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including three Emmy Awards. She runs the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles and is a former member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities.
17
MC Hammer(One of the Most Significant Rappers and Dancers of All Time)
Birthdate: March 30, 1962
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Oakland, California, United States
Rap legend MC Hammer, a pioneer of the pop-rap genre, became the first hip-hop artist to earn the “diamond” status. He is also known for his chartbusting tracks such as U Can't Touch This and his signature "Hammer pants." He later became a preacher and hosted his own reality show.
18
Lisa Niemi(Writer, Director and Lead Actress of the Film 'One Last Dance')
Birthdate: May 26, 1956
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States
Lisa Niemi is known for her appearance in Steel Dawn and One Last Dance, with her former husband Patrick Swayze. She also released memoirs, both New York Times bestsellers and one of them co-written by Swayze. Swayze’s death due to pancreatic cancer led her to spread awareness about the ailment.
19
Harry Shum Jr.(Actor Best Known for His Roles in the TV Series: 'Glee' and 'Shadowhunters')
Birthdate: April 28, 1982
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Actor and Dancer Known for His Role as ‘Mike Chang’ on the Fox Television Series ‘Glee’
Harry Shum Jr. is an actor, dancer, choreographer, and singer. He is best known for his work in films like Step Up 2: The Streets, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, and Crazy Rich Asians. Also a popular TV actor, Harry's award-winning portrayal of a bisexual person in Shadowhunters gained him a large fan following within the LGBT community.
20
Abby Lee Miller(Dancer, Choreographer and Founder of ‘Abby Lee Dance Company’)
Birthdate: September 21, 1965
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Abby Lee Miller is a choreographer, dance instructor, and reality TV personality. She is credited with founding the Abby Lee Dance Company where the popular TV series Dance Moms was filmed. The series follows the training of children in dance under the tutelage of Miller. In 2018, Miller was diagnosed with a type of cancer that has left her wheelchair-bound.
Birthdate: May 18, 1919
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Reigate, England
Died: February 21, 1991
Margot Fonteyn was an English ballerina who spent her entire dancing career at the Royal Ballet. She was eventually appointed prima ballerina assoluta of the Royal Ballet by Queen Elizabeth II. Margot Fonteyn achieved international fame after a tour of the US in 1949. She also helped popularize ballet in the US by appearing on TV before and after WWII.
22
Allison Holker(American Dancer, Choreographer, and Actress Known for Her TV Dance Competition ‘So You Think You Can Dance’)
Birthdate: February 6, 1988
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Anoka County, Minnesota, United States
Allison Holker is an American dancer known for appearing in the reality TV dance competition show, So You Think You Can Dance. She has also worked in several concert tours, films, and television series. In 2007, she was adjudged the National Senior Dancer of the Year. In 2013, she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination under the Outstanding Choreography category.
Birthdate: July 1, 1941
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Portland
Twyla Tharp is an American dancer, author, and choreographer. She is credited with founding Twyla Tharp Dance, which she formed in 1966. In 1976, Twyla Tharp choreographed Push Comes to Shove, which is now regarded as the finest example of crossover ballet. Twyla Tharp has received several prestigious awards, including two Emmy Awards and the National Medal of the Arts.
24
Mayte Garcia
(Actress & Dancer Known as the World’s Youngest Professional Belly Dancer)
Birthdate: November 12, 1973
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Fort Rucker, Alabama, United States
Mayte Garcia is an American dancer, singer, and actress. She has worked with popular artists like Britney Spears. Mayte Garcia was married to record producer and musician, Prince, from 1996 to 2000. Mayte Garcia has also written a book titled The Most Beautiful: My Life with Prince which was published in 2017.
Birthdate: April 4, 1985
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Arlington, Texas, United States
Rapper/choreographer Todrick Hall gained fame after appearing in the ninth season of American Idol. His YouTube videos, featuring his songs and parodies, too, became viral. He has also been a judge on RuPaul's Drag Race and is openly gay. He has also appeared as Billy Flynn in the play Chicago.
Birthdate: September 14, 1981
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
27
Carrie Ann Inaba
(Television personality, dancer, choreographer best known for her work on ABC TV's Dancing with the Stars for which she has served as a judge since 2005)
Birthdate: January 5, 1968
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Birthdate: October 17, 1960
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Birthdate: October 11, 1918
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Manhattan
Died: July 29, 1998
Birthdate: December 6, 1988
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Sarcelles, France
Larry Bourgeois became an international sensation performing as part of the hip-hop dance duo Les Twins, with his identical twin brother, Laurent Bourgeois. The French-born dancer first gained fame when a YouTube video of the duo went viral in the U.S. He has also modeled at the Paris Fashion Week.
Birthdate: April 27, 1969
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: London
Darcey Bussell is an English former ballerina best known for her appearances as a judge on the popular television show, Strictly Come Dancing. She is also known for her association with the Royal Ballet, where she was a principal dancer. Darcey Bussell is considered one of the best British ballerinas of all time and is the recipient of numerous awards.
32
Savion Glover
(Actor, Choreographer, Television actor, Stage actor)
Birthdate: November 19, 1973
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Newark
Birthdate: June 22, 1909
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Glen Ellyn, Illinois, United States
Died: May 21, 2006
Dancer, choreographer, and social activist Katherine Dunham was also a qualified anthropologist. She experimented with various ritual dances, and her innovations included a ballet performance based on Caribbean dance. She also pioneered the Dunham Technique of dance pedagogy and used the pen-name Kaye Dunn to write several works.
Birthdate: April 16, 1919
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Centralia, Washington
Died: July 26, 2009
American dancer and choreographer Merce Cunningham was at the forefront of American modern dance for more than 50 years. Cunningham was honoured with Japan's Praemium Imperiale and a British Laurence Olivier Award. He was also named Officier of the Légion d'honneur in France. A documentary titled Cunningham was made on his life in 2019.
Birthdate: October 17, 1993
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: American Fork, Utah, United States
36
Katherine LaNasa(Actress Known for Her Roles in the Sitcom ‘Three Sisters’ and Films: ‘The Frozen Ground’, 'The Campaign')
Birthdate: December 1, 1966
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Katherine LaNasa is an American actress known for her starring roles in films like The Campaign and Jayne Mansfield's Car. A former ballet dancer and choreographer, LaNasa started dancing at the age of 12. During the late-1980s, LaNasa assisted choreographer John Carrafa for the 1989 crime and dance drama film Rooftops.
Birthdate: March 2, 1949
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, United States
38
Mark Ballas
(Singer, Dancer, Choreographer, Stage actor, Guitarist)
Birthdate: May 24, 1986
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Houston
39
Alyssa Edwards(Drag Performer & Choreographer Best Known As a Contestant of 'RuPaul's Drag Race')
Birthdate: January 16, 1980
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Mesquite, Texas, United States
Alyssa Edwards is an American choreographer, drag performer, and businessperson. She gained international prominence after participating in the reality competition TV series RuPaul's Drag Race in 2013. In June 2019, she was ranked fifth in New York magazine's most powerful drag queens in America list. Alyssa Edwards’ life and career inspired the 2018 docuseries Dancing Queen which premiered on Netflix.
40
Bruno Tonioli(Choreographer & Judge of the Reality TV Shows 'Strictly Come Dancing' and 'Dancing With the Stars')
Birthdate: November 25, 1955
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Ferrara, Italy
Italian choreographer Bruno Tonioli gained fame as a Latin and ball dancer. He was a judge on the dance reality shows Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars and also appeared on DanceX and Dance War. He is gay and has often spoken of the homophobia he has faced.
41
Loie Fuller
(Actor, Lighting designer, Choreographer, Artist, Dancer, Stage actor, Model)
Birthdate: January 15, 1862
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Illinois
Died: January 1, 1928
42
Pawan Kalyan
(Film director, Actor, Choreographer, Screenwriter)
Birthdate: September 2, 1971
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Bapatla
Pawan Kalyan is an Indian actor, screenwriter, director, stunt coordinator, politician, and philanthropist. Best known for his work in the Telugu film industry, Pawan Kalyan is one of the most popular actors of his generation. He is also known for his humanitarian work; he is credited with establishing a charitable organization called Common Man Protection Force.
43
Pasha Kovalev(Ballroom and Latin Dancer, Best Known as Participant of 'So You Think You Can Dance')
Birthdate: January 19, 1980
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Russia
Pasha Kovalev is a Russian ballroom and Latin dancer. He soared to fame with the shows So You Think You Can Dance and Strictly Come Dancing. He had earlier moved to the U.S. with his dance partner Anya Garnis. He has also appeared in the Broadway production Burn the Floor.
44
Prabhu Deva
(Indian Actor, Dancer and Choreographer Who Has Garnered Two National Film Awards for Best Choreography)
Birthdate: April 3, 1973
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Mysore, Karnataka, India
Born Prabhu Sundaram, Prabhu Deva soared to fame with the song Mukkabla from Kadhalan. Born to a movie choreographer father, he followed in his footsteps to learn classical dance at an early age. The Padma Shri- and two-time National Award-winning dancer later gravitated to acting and direction.
Birthdate: October 13, 1982
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Waltham, United Kingdom
Professional dancer Kevin Clifton won Strictly Come Dancing with partner Stacey Dooley in 2018. He had started learning Latin and ballroom dance as a child and competed across the world with his sister, Joanne. The former youth world number 1 dancer was ranked seventh in the world when he retired.
Birthdate: March 24, 1986
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Odesa, Ukraine
Ukrainian-American professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy is best known for his appearances in the US version of the reality dance competition TV show Dancing with the Stars, which he won twice. A versatile and brilliant dancer, he is also a 14-time US National Latin Dance champion. He is the co-owner of nine social dance studios as well.
Birthdate: September 4, 1957
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Jacksonville, Florida, United States
48
Kenny Ortega(Director and Choreographer Known for His Films: ‘Newsies’, ‘Hocus Pocus’ and ‘High School Musical’)
Birthdate: April 18, 1950
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Palo Alto, California, United States
Emmy-winning choreographer Kenny Ortega is best known for directing and choreographing the High School Musical TV film series and the Descendants trilogy, both for Disney Channel. Ortega has also directed shows for popular artists such as Michael Jackson, Gloria Estefan, and Cher. He is also openly gay.
49
Michael Flatley
(Irish-American Dancer and Choreographer Known for His Work in Shows: 'Lord of the Dance' and 'Riverdance')
Birthdate: July 16, 1958
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Born in Chicago, Irish-origin entertainer Michael Flatley took to dancing inspired by his step dancer mother and music-loving father. Initially a gambler and stockbroker, he later performed with The Chieftains and then choreographed the globally renowned show Riverdance. He later launched shows such as Lord of the Dance and Celtic Tiger.
Birthdate: October 23, 1986
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA