A true legend! MARGUERITE DERRICKS is one of dance’s most highly recognized and respected working choreographers. She is the first and only choreographer to have received three consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Choreography, and is also the recipient of five MTV Movie Awards for Best Dance Sequence.
Marguerite’s television credits include THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL, Netflix’s GLOW, the revival of GILMORE GIRLS, and film blockbusters films like the AUSTIN POWERS franchise, CHARLIE'S ANGELS, TROPIC THUNDER, MR. AND MRS. SMITH, 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, NO STRINGS ATTACHED, and 13 GOING ON 30.
In this episode, Marguerite generously shares her dance journey - from ballet roots to TV, Film, Broadway, Vegas and what I am calling Dance-World-Domination. We talk about how she hires and expectations she holds from the dancers she works with. What came after winning 3 Emmy’s, how to best collaborate amongst creatives, pitching projects, where technology is fitting into her career growth, and her biggest mistakes that taught her the most.
Please enjoy and share this beautiful conversation with the dance community.
This season we have been interviewing faculty from the newest dance convention experience called The Moment by KM Agency. Today we are speaking with Hip Hop educator and master teacher Draico. From his late introduction to dance, to comparison, to his Emmy nomination for the Aretha Franklin Story, to moving through creative blocks - we cover so much. Dondraico has created movement for artists like Madonna, Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, Ricky Martin, & Jennifer Lopez.
His feature film credits include GHOSTBUSTERS, HAUNTED MANSION, STEP UP 3D, STEP UP REVOLUTION, and Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT. Draico and I also have a Parent Conversation posted on the Km Agency Instagram page if you are craving more!
She is back for Round 3! Liana believes that art is expressing one's self and their perspective honestly and vulnerably. That genuine expression permeates all aspects of her life and the connections she makes with others. As far as her career, Liana has been training dance since she was three, and choreographing, teaching, and dancing her way all over the world for the last 15 years working on TV and film such as Jane The Virgin, Dancing With The Stars, The Voice, So You Think You Can Dance, Target, The Greatest Showman LIVE Commercial, Footloose, Seventeen Again, Happy Feet 2, as well as dancing on stage with Cirque Du Soleil and alongside some of the most sought after recording artists, such as Katy Perry, Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga, The Jonas Brothers, Bebe Rexha, Britney Spears, Ricky Martin, The Rolling Stones, and over 20 others.
With a deep desire to help dancers, from beginners to pros, how to find their true inner voice in an often superficial and judgmental industry, she created a dance class called BODY LANGUAGE. Incorporating her numerous years of acting training with her dance career, she focuses on dancing WITH INTENTION, not FOR ATTENTION! While teaching dancers how to find clarity in their voice, confidence in their body, and power in their intention, she has watched lives completely transform before her eyes. Away from the classroom, you can find Liana online as DailyDancerDiet, where she openly shares her over a decade-long journey to healthy happiness. She is passionately dedicated to inspiring and coaching others to navigate their own paths toward delight in their well-being.
Casey Gonzalez, an Arizona native, has always had a passion for movement. She graduated from The Ailey School Certificate program in 2012 and followed up with achieving a B.S. in Healthy Lifestyles and Coaching From Arizona State University, a classical comprehensive Pilates Certification and both GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® Teacher Training certifications by 2017. Her dance career has bridged the gap between the commercial and concert worlds. She has worked with choreographers such as Mandy Moore and Andrew Winghart, for brands like Master Card, Smirnoff, and Disney and performed on stages across Germany, France, Switzerland, and Dubai touring in Sweetbird Productions “Rock the Ballet X” and “Romeo & Juliette” ballets, choreographed by Adrienne Canterna. Casey began assisting for CLI Studios in 2019 for choreographers like Teddy Forance and Kathryn McCormick and made the move to Massachusetts from Los Angeles in 2021 to be a resident faculty member at The CLI Conservatory. Casey is also on faculty with Dana Foglia Dance programs. Casey takes great pride in working with younger dancers that have professional aspirations. From her own career experience and extensive study of movement, Casey’s mission is to coach and guide dancers to understand and value efficiency in movement. Casey believes that with the right combination of concentration, balance, and energy, even the most advanced movements can be done with ease and flow. Each class is aimed to unlock the greatest potential in each individual body.