Another one =)
Friday, July 21, 2006
The Graduates: Performing arts students leave Louisville to tackle the world of entertainment
LaVelle Smith's family gave him one year to make it in dance. The alternative? Return to Kentucky and pursue a four-year college degree.
"I didn't want to move back to Kentucky, and I didn't want to be in college four years and not make money. I was determined to make it."
Smith, 40, is a choreographer and 1983 graduate of the Youth Performing Arts School. He has won five MTV Music Awards, two Bob Fosse Awards, an Emmy nomination and numerous other awards.
He has choreographed music videos for megastars such as Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Destiny's Child, TLC, Texas and En Vogue. His dance moves have been seen on tours of the Rolling Stones, Diana Ross and Janet Jackson.
He also choreographed and performed on three Michael Jackson tours.
His is the kind of career that YPAS faculty and staff enjoy talking about. The school, located at 1517 S. Second St., draws the best students and it produces some of the best performers in the nation.
"I see them out on stage all the time, and I'm overwhelmed by their talent, sophistication and confidence level in their performance," said Beverly Keepers, principal since 1989. Founded in 1978, enrollment was 435 in the 2005-06 school year.
The following story highlights three YPAS graduates who are making their mark in the performing arts.
Before Smith became a world-renowned choreographer, he was a teen-ager with a dream. He auditioned for YPAS in 10th grade thinking that he would pursue a career in drama. But he failed the audition and was left with his second choice: Dance.
"The teachers there were fantastic," he said. "I learned hard work. I learned that it wasn't going to be easy. But I just knew somehow that I could make a career for myself in dance."
The people he met during his time at YPAS mentored his moral character, teaching him to "mouth" less and listen and think more.
And three weeks after graduating from YPAS, the 18-year-old moved to Chicago and landed a salaried dance position with the Gus Giordano dance troupe, called Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago.
Unsatisfied with the pay of a company dancer, Smith kept auditioning for dance roles. He also ran up against racial prejudice. "When that happens, you realize that you have to be even better or move to L.A. where it doesn't matter," he said with a laugh.
A choreographer for a movie Smith danced in connected him with Diana Ross's U.S. tour. And his work on the Ross tour caught Michael Jackson's attention.
He began working for the pop star first as a dancer and then as a choreographer. The match has led to 20 years of work for Smith, including one gig that impressed even him.
He was assisting a young choreographer for a Rolling Stones tour, when the choreographer backed out leaving Smith at the helm.
"They sent me a box of Stones material, and I had to cram and learn all I could," he said. So while working as assistant choreographer and dancing in Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation Tour, Smith worked as choreographer for the Stones.
He said he was "never star-struck" while on the job. But sometimes when work was over and he would be hanging out with his employers, "It would hit me. I can't believe that I'm sitting here with this person."
Smith currently is choreographing a megastar show, "Equilibrium," being staged in Chicago next year. He left Los Angeles five years ago and returned to the Louisville area, a move he made to remove himself from the expensive and partying lifestyle in L.A. He still flies to both coasts to work.
He said his goal is to become a director and call all the shots.
http://louisville.bizjournals.com/l...7/24/focus1.html?i=50551&b=1153713600^1317822
He doesn't really talk about Michael Jackson. At least I haven't found anything.
