Frank Gatson Jr. | |
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Born |
Frank Gatson Jr. October 4 Louisiana (born) Milwaukee, Wisconsin (origin) |
Education | North Division High School and University Of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee |
Occupation | Creative director, director, choreographer, Manager of Island Artist Luke James, Starring with Kelly Rowland on BET new docu-series called Chasing Destiny |
Years active | 1980s—present |
Former groups | Alvin Ailey Dance and Broadway Dance Centre |
Frank Gatson Jr. is an American choreographer and director. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1980 and began dancing for Up With People, an organization that travelled the world performing at all different kinds of venues even appearing at several Super Bowl halftime performances. Eventually, he worked his way up to official ‘dance captain’ and began to manage the show itself. He later moved to New York to study at the ‘Broadway Dance Center’ and ‘Alvin Ailey Dance Center’. After finishing his time at Ailey and Broadway Centers he returned to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and received a Masters in Theatre and Dance. He got his first professional break when he danced in Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” video in 1986. He is the creative director for Beyoncé, a position he has held since her tenure with Destiny's Child. He has also choreographed videos, routines and live performances for other artists including R. Kelly, Michael Jackson, TLC, En Vogue, Kelly Rowland, Jennifer Lopez, Fifth Harmony, Destiny's Child, Toni Braxton and Usher. Additionally, he served as Choreographer for Disney's animated film Hercules, providing choreography for The Muses. His dance routines have earned him the most MTV Video Music Awards for Best Choreography in its history (six). In 2016, he hosted BET's Chasing Destiny with Kelly Rowland. They formed a girl group, June's Diary. The Group June's Diary is touring with R. Kelly as the opening act.
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