Dance Masters: Alan Johnson
Happy Birthday Alan Johnson!
Today, February 18th, we celebrate the legacy of Alan Johnson.
A creative genius - One of finest Magic Makers of all time - Choreographer - Director - Dancer - An inspiration to all!
I’m always amazed when I’m teaching a class and I make reference to one of the great choreographers or dancers of our time and no one knows who I’m talking about…and I think to myself how unfortunate for them not to have experienced such greatness and artistry!
So, about 5 years ago I decided to talk about one Dance Master every newsletter to inspire, re-inspire and educate us all. I feel it’s important to always remember our roots, where we came from, how things developed and to know who paved the way on the road of dance before us. Those who, through the years, changed dance permanently, influenced and uplifted society with their creativity and innovation for the better.
I chose Alan Johnson as my first dance master to celebrate and acknowledge. Like so many other choreographers and dancers I feel Alan was a true choreography genius, director, storyteller and a wonderful dancer. Alan truly knew how to entertain an audience, with his smooth elegant classical jazz style and unbelievable humor, bringing out the best in every artist he worked with. He was magical! A true magic-maker!
An industry veteran of theater, nightclub, television, cinema and any dance for the camera, Alan Johnson is a 3-time Emmy award winner best known for his work on Mel Brooks films and for re-staging Jerome Robbins original choreography in live productions of West Side Story in the United States and internationally. He has been linked to West Side Story since making his Broadway debut in the show in 1957. Alan brought the West Side Story dance style into the mainstream when he choreographed several Gap commercials in 2000. This commercial earned him an American Choreography award.
My personal favorites are the shows and numbers he created for Shirley MacLaine, Ann-Margret, Chita Rivera, Debbie Allen and Tommy Tune to name a few. Little did I know when I first met Alan that he was the mastermind behind much that inspired me to be an artist as a little girl—the television variety specials I watched while snuggled next to my father on the couch, laughing and being entertained by the greatest. It is funny in life how things come full circle.
You must know now how fortunate I feel to have called this man my dear friend and mentor. He lives on through his timeless work and the people he touched. He will always live in my heart. I hope you enjoy this overview of Alan’s work! He thought it was terrific, in his own words, and he would love that I thought to share it with you. I look forward to sharing more of Alan’s legacy with you - full length pieces, photos and thoughts in the near future.