By Deborah Searle.

LaurieAnn Gibson has choreographed for almost every major superstar in today’s industry, including Beyonce, Michael Jackson, Alicia Keys, Puff Daddy, Missy Elliott and Lady Gaga. She not only starred in the feature film Honey, alongside Jessica Alba, but was also the film’s choreographer. She has created for commercials, television, film, and arena tours and is about to start filming on a new television series of her own, along with her work on shows like Making the Band and SYTYCD.

Deborah Searle shared a few moments with Gibson, after taking her class at The Pulse On Tour.

LaurieAnn is a star, with an incredible list of career achievements. But does she have a career highlight? “Everything has been a highlight because everything has evolved”, she said. “But I think right now I’m really excited about the Lady Gaga Monster Ball that I creative directed and choreographed. She’s got eleven dancers. I knew Gaga before she came out and she’s developed more as a dancer, with that mindset. So the dance on the tour is just amazing.”
So underneath the crazy costumes and outlandish performances, what is Gaga really like? “She’s funny, she’s great”, laughed LaurieAnn. “She’s like a dancer, she’s one of us.”

As she has danced and choreographed for television, film and the stage I asked LaurieAnn if she had a favourite performance platform. “I love it all, but I love the lights of stage, the arena tours, the live action”, she shared. But does she prefer to perform, choreograph or teach? “I love to perform. I’m a dancer in my heart and soul. I can’t fight that feeling. But I love everything. I respect the teaching part of it, I am still evolving that because I am a working choreographer and I only teach at The Pulse. I’ve never taught prior to that really. I have a lot of respect for dance teachers. I don’t ultimately know if that’s my calling, but I enjoy it. I teach in another way, I teach my dancers that I work with. I work them very hard”, she explained.

So what does she want to share with the young dancers she teaches at The Pulse? “I think for me it’s encouraging them and building their love of dance, more than beating them down about a step. They get us for such a short period of time, so I try to infuse them with the movement that could unlock their confidence, the spirit of dance and the feeling of dance. That’s my mantra, that’s what I’m really about, the feeling of dance.”

LaurieAnn teaches at The Pulse

So where did it all begin for LaurieAnn? “I honestly believe with all of my heart that I was called to be a dancer”, she expressed. “I think it happened in the heavenly realms. My Mum put my two older sisters in dance class and they rejected it, so she never put me in as she never wanted to force us. I asked to dance.”

LaurieAnn then went on to train at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. “I was born in Toronto Canada and I was studying at the National Ballet of Canada. When I was 14 I saw Alvin Ailey at the O’Keefe Center. I had been studying dance, and there were all the white girls in the class (not that that mattered), but it was the first time that I saw black girls on pointe and they looked like me. They danced with an intensity and a soulfulness that I wasn’t getting. I told my mother that I wanted to go there. So we found out that they had a school. When I was 16 I took a Greyhound bus to New York to study at Ailey.” At a young age that was a big move for LaurieAnn. “It was terrifying, but I just wanted to dance. My mother and father were terrified, but I was like ‘I want to be a dancer’”, she expressed.

Training at a modern dance institution, how did she get into hip hop? “I started hip hop as a sort of side bar. I was at Ailey studying and I was in the second company. I learnt all the repertoire and I realized that there was something more that was going on inside of me. As much as I loved doing company work, I had this thing where I didn’t want to have to conform to the character that was required in each piece every day. I respected it so much, but I felt like there was something else. Then I went to a Mary J Blige audition and I found so much freedom in the hip hop. That’s what attracted me to that stage of my dance career.”

Having such formal training, how has this impacted her choreography and style? “My training is everything”, she said. “In the hip hop world people probably criticize and call me 60% technique and 40% street. I’ve battled in many circles but my style is definitely technically based. It has the feel of hip hop, but it’s very challenging for the street dancer as it elevates hip hop. I think that’s what I am ultimately crafting and creating. Hip hop is a feeling and there is still a level of technique, I think, that should be required”, she explained.

LaurieAnn at The Pulse with Gil Duldulao & Dave Scott

So where does she get her ideas and inspirations from? “It’s funny because it has everything to do with my faith. God works through my dreams, he gives me the visions, he speaks to me, he shows me. I see it first and then I begin about the journey to create. Music is the other thing, that in tandem, works with my gift. It speaks to me and tells me what to do where. The music has the other element, the balance for me”, she explained.

So what advice does she have for aspiring choreographers? “Make sure you have the gift in all honesty, and not just the ability to put steps together. Make sure it’s a calling, that it’s that uncomfortable feeling to create something new and that you’re not imitating. Make sure you know that it’s what you’re called to do”, she advised.

With a new television show about to begin I asked LaurieAnn about her current projects. “I just did Alicia Key’s new tour, which was amazing and I’ve got Puff Daddy coming out again”, she shared. “I have my own show coming out that we’re really happy about. It is almost like America’s Next Top Model. It’s called Boom Kack.”

But what is the Boom Kack about? “I am going to take about 15 girls and find the next professional female dancer”, she explained. “I’ll train them, infuse them with what I feel are things that no-none told me, build their spirits, develop their technique and give them as much as I can in six weeks. The winner gets $85,000, an agent, a placement in a video and to work with Gaga.”

So what advice does she have for the young dance hopefuls? “It sounds like a cliché, but I would honestly say to believe in yourself against all odds. When it feels like you just can’t make it or that you’re just not good enough, that’s just not true, it’s just about believing at all times. If that’s what you really want, you can make it.”

Photos: Courtesy of The Pulse. Top photo by Voyeur Photography.

By Deborah Searle.

After visiting eleven other cities, The Pulse 2010 ‘Find Your Voice’ Tour ended in Atlanta on March 20th and 21st. And what a way to finish, with the entire star studded faculty at the event! With classes from Brian Friedman, Mia Michaels, Wade Robson, LaurieAnn Gibson, Tyce Diorio, Gil Duldulao, Cris Judd, and Dave Scott, the dancers attending enjoyed a challenging, yet inspiring weekend.

Held at the Georgia World Congress Center, each level enjoyed large ballrooms to dance in. I relished the opportunity in the Advanced/Pro room to learn from the industry’s leaders. Each class was an hour or longer and we all got the chance to take at least one class from each faculty member. Dave, LaurieAnn, Gil and Cris taught Hip Hop, Tyce and Brian taught Jazz, Wade gave us his own unique style with repertoire from his work on SYTYCD and Mia shared with us her contemporary/lyrical expertise. All the classes were tough and demanding, but tailored to each level. I particularly loved the choreography in each routine we learnt. We weren’t just learning steps, but a unique style and form of expression. I enjoyed Wade and Mia’s classes the most, as their movement sits well with my dance background and personal taste.

On the Saturday night the dancers got their moment to shine with a Pulse Showcase, where they performed group routines from their studios or companies. With a large variety of dance styles displayed at different levels, it made for an interesting show. Some of the talent was outstanding. There are amazing dancers coming out of US studios, as well as some exceptional choreography. There were, of course, many cheesy ‘competition’ like numbers, but these were fun and mostly executed well.

At a teachers lunch on the Sunday, studio teachers and choreographers were given feedback from the faculty on the work they presented, which was constructive and helpful.

After the grueling two days of classes The Pulse event ended with a faculty question and answer session. The students took great advantage of this, asking their idols about their childhoods, dance backgrounds, aspirations and even about the passing of Michael Jackson, who they have all worked closely with. The faculty, who enjoy a wonderful family like relationship, laughed and told stories, really taking the time to answer each question and communicate with their fans. They were real and encouraging.

The Pulse provides a great opportunity for young dancers, budding professionals and teachers to learn from some of America’s top commercial artists and choreographers. The faculty are accessible and friendly and they take the time to impart their passion into the dancers. The Pulse is not for everyone, with only a few dance styles covered, but for those who love hip hop, jazz and/or contemporary, or who just want a challenge, this convention is a real treat.

Next on The Pulse schedule is their huge Summer events in Los Angeles and New York.
For more information visit www.thepulseontour.com

Photos: Courtesy of The Pulse

Lady Gaga Dancer Montana Efaw.

 By Kristy Johnson.

At only 18 years of age, Montana Efaw is already making a name for herself. Chosen to dance for Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball World Tour, Montana will be heading to the Australian shores early this year. Excited about the tour, Montana spoke with Dance Informa’s Kristy Johnson.

Congratulations on being selected as a dancer for Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball World Tour.
How did this come about?  

Back in August or September ’09 there was a big audition held to dance for Lady Gaga at the MTV Video Music Awards.  I was fortunate to book that job. It was a highlight moment I’ll never forget.  The concept was so amazing, incredible and theatrical and Gaga is the absolute best singer/songwriter and entertainer!  I didn’t want the experience to end!  So when I got the call from my agent that I was chosen to be booked for the Monster Ball World Tour it was like my dream came true.

For you, what does it mean to be a Lady Gaga dancer?  

Oh man! Gaga is such an incredible talent. It is a dream job to dance for her and go full out at every performance for her.  Dance and performing is my passion.  I’m 100% a Lady Gaga Monster!

Relocating from Portland to Los Angeles, how did you prepare for the move?  

For me, the key when making that move to LA is to have a  plan!  I knew at about 14 or 15 that I wanted to dance/choreograph as a career. So looking back at those years, every step I did brought me closer to that.  Although I am 18 years old, I had prepared for the move for several years with training, traveling, working hard and grasping every dance opportunity along the way. I didn’t wait for things to come to me, but I pursued everything!  And did I mention training, traveling, training, traveling….lots of that!

Your career to date reads like a dream, what advice would you give to aspiring commercial dancers?

Get into the best studio in your area and train, train, train!  In all styles!  In this business you have to be able to master several styles of dance. Don’t focus on just hip hop or just jazz.  Train the hardest on what you are weakest in.  Teach class, get used to working with dancers and setting choreography on them.  Find local shows and conventions where you can get stage performing opportunities. Be relentless.  And be yourself! Don’t try to imitate another dancer. You can definitely learn from other dancers, but you are what makes you unique.  Then when the time is right for you (you have a plan, a place to live, job opportunities, an agent, etc) you make that giant step!

Which choreographers have you been working with for the tour?  

Laurieann Gibson!  Ahhhhhh…..amazing!  I assisted for her for a couple years at a dance convention called The Pulse. Her style is so unique and entertaining and when she teaches class she includes tips and tricks on how to be a better performer. Listen to everything she says – golden advice.  If you ever have a chance to take her class, DO NOT miss it!   She also has an incredible assistant, Richie Jackson who works with us a lot too – very inspiring! (For information about The Pulse visit www.thepulseontour.com)

With the tour heading down to Australia, what can we expect to see from the show?  

Be prepared for the show of your life!  Lady Gaga will give you a performance you will be talking about for years to come!

What’s next for you after the conclusion of the tour?  

Oh, I really can’t think about that!  My job is here and now and I give it 200% of myself.  Right now I’ll keep my Monster Paws up!

Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball World Tour is currently touring the US, before heading to the UK. Her first concert in Australia will be March 17^th at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Check out www.ladygaga.com for dates and locations.