By Kristy Johnson.

When you think of Christopher Scott, more comes to mind than just a choreographer – he’s a dance innovator and storyteller. This can be seen in his choreography for the latest Step Up franchise, Revolution.

A familiar face on screen, Chris has lent his hand to Fox’s number one hit competition series in the US, So You Think You Can Dance, for which he received his first Emmy nomination at this year’s awards.

Dance Informa caught up with Chris to chat about the success of Step Up Revolution.

How was the experience of choreographing for Step Up Revolution?

I started off my role in the franchise as the character ‘Hair’ in Step Up 2: The Streets. So being behind the camera five years later was a little surreal! It made the experience extremely special. Not to mention getting to create routines with some of the most incredible dancers in the world, all while working under supervising choreographer Jamal Sims, who just happens to be one of my mentors, director Scott Speer, who set an endless idea of what we could do in this film, and executive producer Adam Shankman, who has been such a big part of bringing dancers to the forefront as he’s a dancer himself. And three months in Miami! Basically it was a dream job!

Christopher Scott. Photos by Gabriel Goldberg.

Which parts of the choreography did you have a hand in?

I was in charge of choreographing the ‘Office Plaza Mob’, with 65 dancers in suits shutting down an office building in a display of protest. I also had a part in the ‘Museum Mob’. Jamal Sims gave me the piece to choreograph with the Hoberman Spheres (expanding 3D spheres) featuring Twitch. Then we all came together for the finale where I was in charge of Adam Sevani’s section with the riot shields, the b-boy section and Madd Chadd’s robotic police officer section.

How inspiring was it to be in Miami?

Miami is a really inspiring place for art! It has such a strong culture that being there really influenced the outcome of the choreography in some ways.

Is the Miami dance scene very different to LA?

I actually know a lot of dancers in LA from Miami, so I felt very at home there. I have to say though, some of the best b-boys in the world come from Miami! They call it ‘Flava Florida’ and if you have ever seen Skill Methodz Crew, Flipside Kings or other Miami crews, you might know what I’m talking about.

Some dance movies don’t always do so well at the box office. Why do you think the Step Up franchise is always such a great success?

I think the fact that it was a franchise built by dancers and people who genuinely love dance. The executive producer Adam Shankman, and Anne Fletcher who directed the first installment, have had an amazing dance and choreography career of their own. Then comes along Jon M. Chu, who directed the second and third installments. He put so much care into making sure the dance was authentic and shot in a way not to distract from the dancers but to enhance them. He also just happens to be an amazing storyteller and I think he plays a huge role in the success of the franchise.

How important has the Step Up series been for hip-hop culture?

I think it has been extremely important! There’s a whole generation of kids out there that haven’t seen Beat Street or Breakin. The Step Up movies have given that generation a dose of what I got growing up. Step Up 3D actually opened with a montage that spoke about hip-hop. The franchise has done a great job of showing that style to the masses in a really great way. For some people it might still just be a bunch of people spinning on their heads, but I know personally that it has inspired kids to train in these dance styles and respect them as art.

Congratulations on receiving an Emmy nomination for this year’s awards. You must feel grateful to shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With The Stars for giving dance the recognition it deserves in the media.

Absolutely! They have created a place for dancers to be the stars. I am still amazed when I’m with Twitch and someone asks him for his autograph. He’s getting recognition for being brilliant at an art form, which hasn’t happened much since the Gene Kelly days. These shows have also given someone like me a place to tell stories through movement to a huge audience on a weekly basis, and has given us the opportunity to inspire a whole other generation of dancers who are going to continue to push the boundaries of dance in the future. So yes, I’m extremely grateful for shows like So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With The Stars and America’s Best Dance Crew.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on some projects for Jon M. Chu’s new dance lifestyle channel on YouTube called DS2DIO. I have been directing various episodes of a show we have in the US called Studio City, which features some of the best freestylers in the world dancing in a very specific location to them.

Photos by Gabriel Goldberg.

The Jabbawockeez. Photo Copyright David Wyatt www.capturingimages.com.au

The Forum, Entertainment Quarter
Saturday August 29^th

 By Kristy Johnson.

As an avid fan of the hit MTV television show America’s Best Dance Crew, I was excited to see Series One champions, the Jabbawockeez, in action! On Saturday 29^th of August, Sydneysiders queued outside The Forum in the Entertainment Quarter at Fox Studios to catch a rare glimpse of the guys behind the masks: Phi, Chris, Kevin, Ben, Rainen, Joe and Phil.

The hype of such an event soon died down when everyone had to queue outside the venue for hours. With a Hip Hop competition running past schedule, media and guests were expected to wait outside for event participants to exit through the main entrance, before Jabbawockeez fans could enter. The crowd was frustrated and keen to get their money’s worth. Unfortunately this highly anticipated event could have been run more smoothly.

Photo Copyright David Wyatt www.capturingimages.com.au

With the show soon underway, it was great to see Sydney based crews performing for the crowd. Crews ‘Justice’ and ‘Deja’ with member Pania Taku from the recent series of So You Think You Can Dance Australia, kept the audience entertained with difficult moves and captivating energy.

Leading up until the Jabbawockeez performance, it would be easy to assume the night was a showcase of past So You Think You Can Dance contestants. Not only was the crowd entertained by series two contestant Pania, but fellow stars Stephen, Timomatic, Chanelle, Danny, Rhiannon and Eman performed a high energy routine with the audience cheering for more. A highlight of the night was a duet by Danny and Chanelle that showcased Chanelle’s incredible flexibility and Danny’s amazing talent.

Although the performance by the Jabbawockeez was delayed, it was definitely worth the wait! With the crew’s cameo in the blockbuster film Step Up 2: The Streets, I was particularly keen to watch their choreography and freestyling in motion. Tributes to Michael Jackson were expected and delivered with a passion and their own unique sense of style. The boys demonstrated their uncanny sense of humour and had great characterisation in their routines. With their slogan ‘A figment of your imagination’, it is evident that their creativity sets them apart from other crews in the industry.

To keep up to date with the Jabbawockeez, follow the boys on twitter at twitter.com/the_wockeez