list of michael jackson choreographers

In 1986 he founded the Miami City Ballet and served as Artistic Director until 2012. Michael then obviously made it his own, perfected it, made it smooth, learned how to do it sideways and in a circle as well. In June 2019, she was ranked fifth in New York magazine's most powerful drag queens in America list. He began formal dance studies under ballroom celebrities Irene and Vernon Castle. Known for her speed and precision, her style became a hallmark of New York City Ballet. Katherine LaNasa is an American actress known for her starring roles in films like The Campaign and Jayne Mansfield's Car. After Adele retired from show business, he transitioned alone to Hollywood. The viewer sees Jacksons perfection first, but it is buttressed by the eye-pleasing site of unison behind him. Her technique incorporated skipping, running, and fluid motion, and she championed the most recognizable trend of the modern dance movement: bare feet. Routines are modeled directly after his choreography as seen in famous music videos and live performances, using a rotoscoping animation technique to reproduce the . In 1997, Tune wrote his memoirFootnotesand released his own music record,Slow Dancing. His personal collection of artifacts and library materials were donated to become the basis of the Dance Collection at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. He is also known for his chartbusting tracks such as, (Writer, Director and Lead Actress of the Film 'One Last Dance'), Lisa Niemi is known for her appearance in, (Actor Best Known for His Roles in the TV Series: 'Glee' and 'Shadowhunters'), (Dancer, Choreographer and Founder of Abby Lee Dance Company), Rapper/choreographer Todrick Hall gained fame after appearing in the ninth season of, (American Dancer, Choreographer, and Actress Known for Her TV Dance Competition So You Think You Can Dance), (Actress & Dancer Known as the Worlds Youngest Professional Belly Dancer), (Modern Dancer and Choreographer Known for Her 'Graham Technique' Style), (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), (Actress Known for Her Roles in the Sitcom Three Sisters and Films: The Frozen Ground, 'The Campaign'), (Drag Performer & Choreographer Best Known As a Contestant of 'RuPaul's Drag Race'), (Singer, Dancer, Choreographer, Stage actor, Guitarist), (Director and Choreographer Known for His Films: Newsies, Hocus Pocus and High School Musical), (Actor, Choreographer, Television actor, Stage actor), (Irish-American Dancer and Choreographer Known for His Work in Shows: 'Lord of the Dance' and 'Riverdance'), American dancer and choreographer Merce Cunningham was at the forefront of American modern dance for more than 50 years. Famous Choreographers | List of the Top Choreographers - Ranker The title track for the Bad album had creative choreography that has, since, been copied by artists worldwide. Pavlovas frail frame, weak ankles, and arched feet defied the popular body type of the era. Did Michael Jacksons choreograph all of his famous dance moves? She later joined Augustin Daly's theater company. A Russian defector, Barbara Karinska was the daughter of a successful textile manufacturer and grew up learning the art of Russian embroidery. Who is Wade Robson and what has he accused Michael Jackson of? In 2007, she was adjudged the National Senior Dancer of the Year. 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. In 2022, Payne became a judge of the talent competition show Yoshiki Superstar Project X, airing on Hulu Japan and produced by Japanese musician and composer Yoshiki.[8]. In addition to his role as NYCBs General Director, he commissioned fine art works from numerous artists, and arranged for several exhibitions of Japanese art and culture selections to be brought to the United States. Thank you for supporting mjfangirlTV so I can continue to provide you with free content each week!#MichaelJackson #KingofPop #MJInnocent After making his professional debut as a dancer, he taught at the New York High School for the Performing Arts. Peter Martins began his professional dance career with the Royal Danish Ballet where he was a principal dancer. Scroll down for a more comprehensive list of choreographers. She also pioneered the Dunham Technique of dance pedagogy and used the pen-name Kaye Dunn to write several works. She appeared in the musical-drama TV series Fame and also worked as the series principal choreographer. She is also known for her association with the Royal Ballet, where she was a principal dancer. In 1983 during a televised performance Jackson first executed his most popular dance move of all: the Moonwalk, a hip hop illusion that uses fluid, gliding, backwards motion. Her dance movements were translated to the animated characters, allowing for more realistic motion. Denby returned to the U.S. at the same time George Balanchine made his first arrival; coincidently he had seen Balanchines early choreography for Ballet Russes while still in Europe. Equally popular were his unique dance moves that created sensation and shaped future dance styles. Thanks to some of America's cutting-edge choreographers, the country's dance forms underwent sea change in the last century. Marge Champion grew up amongst Hollywoods finest and was trained to dance by her father, who also taught Shirley Temple, Gwen Verdon, and Cyd Charisse. In 2013, Payne started work in Japan with Johnny & Associates. She gained international prominence after participating in the reality competition TV series RuPaul's Drag Race in 2013. Showing artistic promise early on, he was designated as one of the Ballet Russes principal choreographers. It is time to explore the life, feats, and deeds of some of America's most exceptionally talented choreographers, right here. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, she began her career as an actress. His students became many of the next generations leading dance artists including Jos Limn and Bob Fosse. Widely regarded as the most influential dancer in film history, Astaire was known for his innovation, perfectionism, and an uncanny sense of rhythm. 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. In 1983, he became Director of the Paris Opera Ballet where he continued to dance and choreograph until 1989. Jerome Robbins began dancing professionally in some of George Balanchines early Broadway works. In this VERY special video, I have the honor of interviewing longtime Michael Jackson collaborators, performers, dancers, choreographers, creative directors, and now dance teachers - TRAVIS PAYNE \u0026 STACY WALKER. Michael's greatest inspiration came from watching who he called "the master" and "genius." The Godfather of Soul Mr. James Brown "mesmerized" Michael Jackson. He also revolutionized dancing on screen by combining technology and art, inventing a new language for body and camera. The kind of impact Michael Jackson had over Indian cinema is both unbelievable and awe-inspiring. The King of Pop. Childs received the Bessie Award for Sustained Achievement in 2001 and was elevated from the rank of Officer to Commander in Frances Order of Arts and Letters in 2004, and in 2009 received the NEA/NEFA American Masterpiece Award. His moves invoked lots of feelings in his fans. 14. . In England he choreographed and danced for the Rambert Company and pursued a successful career as a dancer in musicals and revues. He developed a standardized teaching model and, more uniquely, a business model that revolutionized the dance industry. But the moment is a particular part of dance history because Jackson bridged the gap between West Coast street dance and the East Coast break dancers, who were part of the early days of hip-hop. Busby Berkeley was born into a well-connected Hollywood family and started acting at an early age. Bs pieces. His moves were fast, powerful and perfect to the extent that any other person attempting to copy them would fail dismally. Corvino choreographed for and directed the New Jersey Dance Theater Guild for ten years. He pioneered the application of dance in film, while bringing to attention the distinctive artistic differences and potentials between film and live stage performance. The Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival welcomes tens of thousands of people annually, includes a series of dance intensives and course offerings, and is the premier showcase for contemporary dance companies worldwide. His soulful voice and unmatched dance moves made him an international star long before he produced the famous Thriller album. Alyssa Edwards is an American choreographer, drag performer, and businessperson. Michael Jackson has been, undoubtedly, an inspiration to many contemporary artists. Michael collaborating with the novelist Stephen King wrote the script and first made a short film and then a music video. Margot Fonteyn was an English ballerina who spent her entire dancing career at the Royal Ballet. She was one of the founding teachers at Bennington College, where the American Dance Festival originated. Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet. March 13, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/michael-jacksons-life-as-a-musician-and-choreographer/. #1 of 272 The Greatest Singers of the Past 30 Years Paula Abdul Age: 60 Birthplace: San Fernando, California, USA Paula Julie Abdul (born June 19, 1962) is an American dancer, choreographer, singer, actress, and television personality. Abby Lee Miller is a choreographer, dance instructor, and reality TV personality. 1. So he incorporated that into the moonwalk, said Jared Grimes, an entertainer and Broadway dancer. The Nicholas Brothers dancing style is often referred to as flash dance, a jazz-tap-acrobatics fusion. Julien Mignot . He created nearly one hundred ballets in all, many of which are mainstays of foremost repertories around the world. After retiring as a performer, Villella acted as director and various other artistic positions for many ballet companies. Graham performed on stage into her late seventies and continued to teach and choreograph up until her death. This is IvyPanda's free database of academic paper samples. [citation needed] As a result of his work with Jackson, Payne was exposed to the entire creative process and began to choreograph for various other stars. for only $16.05 $11/page. must. IvyPanda. While in Paris she made her first dance costumes for the fledgling company Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. (2020) 'Michael Jacksons Life as a Musician and Choreographer'. Igor Stravinskys reputation as one of the most influential composers of the twentieth century began with his work for Sergei Diaghilevs company Ballet Russes. Vincent Paterson | Msa Agency | Directors, Choreographers, Master 1 More answers below Jamie Rodriguez Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of, Paula Julie Abdul (born June 19, 1962) is an American dancer, choreographer, singer, actress, and television personality. Other films he choreographed include THE BIRDCAGE for director Mike Nichols, EVITA for director Alan Parker, and HOOK for Steven Spielberg. He served as a panelist to the New York State Council on the Arts and was the recipient of many awards including the 2002 Martha Hill Award for Leadership in Dance. We will write a custom Essay on Michael Jacksons Life as a Musician and Choreographer specifically for you for only $11.00 $9.35/page. Vereen is a recipient of multiple Tony, Golden Globe, and Emmy Awards. Vereen made his off Broadway debut as a professional dancer inThe Prodigal Sonin 1965 at the Greenwich Mews Theater. Catherine Littlefield was born into an arts oriented Philadelphian family. Michael Jackson Beat It Dance Choreography | Jazz Kevin Shin Choreography His reviews were met with great acclaim for their strong modern focus and his development of not only a modern but also a general dance criticism vocabulary. He also choreographed his own works that are still being performed. Later, Dunham traveled to Haiti and other Caribbean islands to explore the roots of Afro-Caribbean and African American culture through dance. . Ben Vereen displayed natural dance talent at an early age. Michael Jackson (MJ) was born in Indiana in the year 1958 to a family that had a deep passion for music. Though predominately African American, his dancers were selected on a basis of talent, never ethnicity, creating a distinctly multi-racial group. She is alsoa fashion designer and a businesswoman. Cunningham was honoured with Japan's Praemium Imperiale and a British Laurence Olivier Award. And the change came with the help of MTV, which launched in 1981. ensure the integrity of our platform while keeping your private information safe. Within Hollywood and Broadway she revolutionized the use of dance as a plot device. Michael Jackson performs live on stage, 1996, Jerudong Park, Brunei. Weidman rejected the rigidity and defiance of gravity found with ballet, as well as the foreign, imaginary, intangible themes of preexisting modern dance. He acted as resident choreographer for ABT for over a decade. Ailey started his dance career as a student and company member under Lester Horton. In May 2009, Payne started to work with Michael Jackson and Kenny Ortega on This Is It which was a sold-out series of fifty concerts by Jackson to be held at The O2 Arena in London. She had an extensive career spanning over 70 years. One of the most widely known dance troupes using the style were the Electric Booglaoos and among their moves were stylized, almost cartoonish walks, including what was called at the time the backslide, according to performer Toni Basil, who is widely known for the song Mickey but was also part of a dance troupe The Lockers. In 2013, she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination under the Outstanding Choreography category. She has also worked in several concert tours, films, and television series. Upon her return home, she founded her own dance company which eventually became The Philadelphia Ballet. He absorbed the moonwalk from a lot of different sources, but they were essentially his own steps, rehearsed for months. The Electric Booglaoos were doing it on Soul Train in the 1970s, said Basil. She drew material from her own roots as a Jewish-American, from her travel experiences, from the isolating effect of urban living, and from the rising tension exhibited by the youth population of her time. Jackson made the move a national phenomenon kids everywhere were imitating him. She has choreographed for Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and the Metropolitan Opera. 2021 The National Museum of Dance. Renowned choreographer and dancer Sir Frederick Aston is among the most influential dance makers of the twentieth century. IvyPanda. In June 2019, she was ranked fifth in New York magazine's most powerful drag queens in America list. She is credited with founding the Abby Lee Dance Company where the popular TV series Dance Moms was filmed. She embraced the idea that dance could be much more than just entertainment. After thirteen years dancing with Ailey she explored working with other renowned companies, starred in the Broadway musicalSophisticated Ladies, and even started her own company, The Jamison Project. Brown created equipment pieces that involved the use of harnesses, trees, buildings, and the scaling of walls. 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 Manhattanand Shall We Dance. His work focused largely on geometric patterns, producing what is often described as a kaleidoscope effect. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. His numerous masterworks of choreography includeThe Sleeping Beauty,Swan Lake,Don Quixote, andLa Bayadre. He learned by watching legendary entertainers such as Jackie Wilson, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Bob Fosse, Sammy Davis Jr., Marcel Marceau and Charlie Chaplin. Out of Houston, Texas, he continues to further his legacy with the Tommy Tune Awards, which annually recognize excellence within high school performing arts. In 1973 she formed Lucinda Childs Dance Company for which she has created over fifty works. You can just google about it and you'll see various results. Frederic Freddie Franklin was born in England where he studied classical ballet. She met George Balanchine in 1933 and later became the costume designer for the New York City Ballet from 1949 to 1977. After seeing a performance at Russias Imperial Maryinsky Theatre, eight-year-old Anna Pavlova was determined to become a ballerina. Also an award-winning actress, Paula was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She experimented with various ritual dances, and her innovations included a ballet performance based on Caribbean dance. Then with frequent on-screen partner, Ginger Rogers, he popularized music and dance sequences in commercial films. He showed Michael Jackson the backslide, or moonwalk. The style included sequences of pulsing or stop-and-start movements. While experimenting with Romantic, Neoclassic, and Serialist composition styles, over thirty of his pieces would be used in NYCB repertory, as well as the repertory of dozens of other companies beyond that. Starting her career as a cheerleader, Paula Abdul went on to choreograph music videos for Janet Jackson. Martha Graham invited him to join her company, where he danced as a soloist for six years. Payne was nominated for an Emmy Award for his choreography work with Michael Jackson on the "Dangerous" performance for the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards opening segment. By age 15, he was a member of the New York City Ballet and was promoted to principal dancer by age 17. 13 March. The kind of impact Michael Jackson had over Indian cinema is both Vereen quickly broke into the world of television and Hollywood film where he advanced his reputation as a true triple threat: an actor, singer, and of course dancer. Amidst his prominent ballet career, Robbins returned to his roots in Broadway to choreograph many classics includingThe King and I,West Side Story,Gypsy, andFiddler on the Roof. Whether they are gang members or zombies, the dancers behind him are just as important as Jackson, adding character and depth to the video. Unlike most other visually uniform companies, BTJ/AZDC welcomes a diverse group of colors, ages, ethnicities, trainings, shapes, and sizes. The series follows the training of children in dance under the tutelage of Miller. Within years, he became one of the most widely recognized contemporary ballet dancers in the world. Pavlova made her permanent home in England where she was a key figure in the development of British ballet. Franklin danced with various other companies and set dozens of historic ballets on many more companies. Sokolows work was designed to be a social and political commentary. In 1991, Lopez began appearing as a Fly Girl dancer, Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll (born 2 February 1977) is a Colombian singer, songwriter, dancer, businesswoman, and philanthropist. Denby published two dance criticism volumes, several works of poetry and prose, and countless critiques. Her pupils include dance greats such as Alvin Ailey, Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, and countless others. The Padma Shri- and two-time National Award-winning dancer later gravitated to acting and direction. A Russian defect, Stravinsky moved to France along with the other leading artists of the time where he composed many of his most well-known pieces. Balanchine was also instrumental in the shaping of the contemporary ballet-body type. Working as a crane operator in the steel industry, his father let nothing come in his way as he relentlessly promoted his children to achieve what he hoped for in vain. In the street, it was old news. Among his other achievements, he is credited to have popularized the genre of musical films in Hollywood. In addition to New York City Ballet, she worked with many other renowned choreographers including Frederick Ashton and Agnes de Mille. She gained international prominence after participating in the reality competition TV series RuPaul's Drag Race in 2013. America has been the minefield of creative force, as far as dancing goes. 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. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Rock Icon KISS Is Saying Goodbye (For Real), Rihanna and 10 Other Great Pregnant Performances, Burt Bacharachs Legacy: 5 Notable Collaborations, 2023 Grammy Awards: Six Winners Who Made History. Her early professional career was spent with Sergei Diaghilevs Ballet Russes, where she received her first starring role by default when the scheduled ballerina failed to arrive on time. De Mille also authored many dance related books, including an autobiography. 2020. Students at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center study Horton and Graham techniques, African dance, and classical ballet. In his late career he shifted focus to include more ballet content, but is recognized to have had strongly well-rounded tastes in all genre of dance. In 2008, Payne choreographed a tribute segment to Michael Jackson which included Omarion on the television series Dancing with the Stars. In 2018, Miller was diagnosed with a type of cancer that has left her wheelchair-bound. Michael Jackson - Dangerous - Choreography by Tevyn Cole | #TMillyTV Filmed by Donovan Okimura Show more Show more Michael Jackson - Liberian Girl Choreography by Tevyn Cole Tevyn Cole. Many of her pieces focus on her love of the American West, while others borrow from the theater of the Orient. Ukrainian-American professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiyis best known for his appearances in the US version of the reality dance competition TV show Dancing with the Stars, which he won twice. She shared the title of Artistic Director with Oliver Smith for forty years, while also dancing as part of the company. He was also named Officier of the Lgion d'honneur in France. The tribute is an interactive work of art by artist David Ilan, which is made from one million hand drawn dots. He embellished preexisting jazz technique with turned in knees and feet, rolling shoulders and wrists, rhythmic snapping, pantomime, and pelvic thrusts. His choreography was groundbreaking and every bit controversial as he challenged traditional boundaries of the music/dance relationship. In a nutshell, Michel Jackson was an artist and celebrity like no other. Despite his late start, Taylor was quickly recruited by Martha Graham to become a soloist in her company while he choreographed works for a small troupe of his own on the side. Vote for Your Favourite Choreographers 1 Michael Jackson Kelly created an original, acrobatic dance style that represented the working class, everyday guy replacing the gentleman in a top hat and tails. She then tried her hand at singing-songwriting and released a highly successful debut studio album. March 13, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/michael-jacksons-life-as-a-musician-and-choreographer/. He soon joined performance group Whiteys Lindy Hoppers as a lead performer and choreographer. Nijinskas repertory upheld Ballet Russes reputation as a forward-thinking company by using humor, sexuality, and both contemporary and historical concepts. St. Denis married dancer Ted Shawn in 1914 and cofounded with him the Denishawn Dance Company and School. Michael Jackson's Life as a Musician and Choreographer Essay In 1984, Payne went to Northside School of the Arts, where he studied with William G Densmore and performed in Atlanta's Showbiz Kids. Dedicated to Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney in appreciation of their sponsorship and establishment of the National Museum of Dance, the Hall of Fame honors innovators who have made outstanding contributions to American professional dance across all genres. He also worked with Mariah Carey on her "H.A.T.E.U." European audiences gave her fame and celebrated her influence on dance and on other artists. Duncans aesthetic emphasized organic movement, nature oriented themes, improvisation, and emotion. He has received at least eight honorary doctorates and won a Tony Award for his Broadway productionFela! He later launched shows such as Lord of the Dance and Celtic Tiger. Her costumes were characterized by intricate detail, daring yet not always dance-friendly use of material, and unique design elements for her time. He has received the MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography four times for his work with En Vogue, Salt-N-Pepa as well as Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson on the music video/short-film "Scream" which was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most expensive music video ever made. Retrieved from https://ivypanda.com/essays/michael-jacksons-life-as-a-musician-and-choreographer/. Rudolf Nureyev was among the most outstanding and influential dancers of his generation. Larry Bourgeois became an international sensation performing as part of the hip-hop dance duo Les Twins, with his identical twin brother, Laurent Bourgeois. Massine created the first symphonic ballet, much to the dismay of musical purists, but continued to choreograph to large-scale symphonies from there. In 1930 he purchased a farm in the Berkshires: Jacobs Pillow. For "Billie Jean" artist: Michael Jackson, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, For "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Single)", Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus, Best Contemporary Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus, Outstanding Performance in a Variety Series/Special, Biggest Friggin Star to Ever Appear on TRL Award, Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year, Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Single - Male, Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Song of the Year, Most Distracting Celebrity Cameo Appearance. Paul Taylor began dancing in his early twenties, after transferring from Syracuse University to the Julliard School. These dancers were dedicated to a philosophy of social change based in dance studies and dance development. Michael Jackson on IMDb: Awards, nominations, and wins. The energy in his videos has also made his work very popular among many lovers of pop music. Michael Jackson (MJ) was born in Indiana in the year 1958 to a family that had a deep passion for music. Jamison was selected by choreographer Agnes de Mille to star in a piece for ABT,The Four Marys. The group toured with jazz greats like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Cab Calloway and pioneered ensemble swing pieces. Michael Jacksons Life as a Musician and Choreographer. For the "E.T. 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. The lessons were administered by cut out footprints, print manuals, and popular music recordings. vote and discuss!!! professional specifically for you? We will write a custom Essay on Michael Jackson's Life as a Musician and Choreographer specifically for you. He is also a dramatic actor. She was eventually appointed prima ballerina assoluta of the Royal Ballet by Queen Elizabeth II. Equally popular were his unique dance moves that created sensation and shaped future dance styles. In addition, he also worked with Han Geng to choreograph the singer's titletrack for his first solo album, along with four other dancers from This Is It. Later in his career he became a great educator, lecturer, and advocate for the arts. He is also known for his chartbusting tracks such as, (Writer, Director and Lead Actress of the Film 'One Last Dance'), Lisa Niemi is known for her appearance in, (Actor Best Known for His Roles in the TV Series: 'Glee' and 'Shadowhunters'), (Dancer, Choreographer and Founder of Abby Lee Dance Company), Rapper/choreographer Todrick Hall gained fame after appearing in the ninth season of, (American Dancer, Choreographer, and Actress Known for Her TV Dance Competition So You Think You Can Dance), (Actress & Dancer Known as the Worlds Youngest Professional Belly Dancer), (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), (One of the Best British Ballerinas of All Time), (Actor, Choreographer, Television actor, Stage actor), American dancer and choreographer Merce Cunningham was at the forefront of American modern dance for more than 50 years.