Galen Hooks would be doing a disservice to Galen Hooks if he attributed his charisma to something as elusive as “The X Factor.” With over 20 years of professional experience, more than 70 A-list celebrity performance and choreographic credits, a social media footprint of over 300 million views and growing, and regular masterclasses across the globe, Hooks has her work cut out for her. She found success without skipping a step and wants you to find the same success.
Hooks’ early dance training took place at two competition studios in Walnut, California: the Fine Arts Center and the Delos Performing Arts Center. At the age of 7, she participated in “Star Search” with a dance group called “Paradise Girls”. (According to Hooks, they were the teen dance champions, winning eight episodes in a row, earning four stars each time.) She then signed with an agent and began dancing at major Los Angeles dance studios such as Edge Performing Arts Center, Moro Landis for training. “I was in a tap company with Greg Russell, and Margaret Derricks and Michael Rooney ran a jazz company,” she said. “I was lucky to have a teacher like that as a child.” At age 9, she was in a Montell Jordan music video, and at 10, she was in a movie mrs santa clausAt the age of 11, she was dancing on Nickelodeon. At 15, Hooks had the job of a lifetime: Austin Powers as Goldmember. She hasn’t stopped working since.
Despite a crazy schedule due to constant bookings (so far, she has worked with Britney Spears, Usher, Jennifer Lopez, Camila Cabello, Justin Bieber, Ed ·Sheeran, Miley Cyrus, Coldplay, Janet Jackson, Chris Brown, Rihanna, John Legend, etc.)) Hooks graduated from high school and even attended Penn State University Received a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society. “When I played in the Super Bowl with Janet Jackson [2004]I was 17 and I was studying in the corner between rehearsals,” she said. “I studied on the bus while touring with Snoop Dogg and graduated from college while working as an assistant choreographer on Snoop Dogg. Yingyan”. While some may think that commercial dancers need to choose between dance and higher education, Hooks is here to set the record straight. “My dance career and education are mutually reinforcing,” she said. “The money I earned from performing paid for my education, and studying law was instrumental in my time as President of the Dancers Union and on the SAG-AFTRA Board of Directors.”
In addition to the advantages of good training and a college degree, Hooks hopes the class of 2024 dancers will pay close attention to her schedule as a choreographer. “I followed the traditional journey from dancer to assistant [for Marguerite Derricks, Jamaica Craft, Jamie King, Andre Fuentes, among others] Connect choreography to choreography,” she added, “[Dancers should not] From studio dancer to choreographer. There is still a lot to learn before reaching this point. She has similar feelings about becoming a master educator. “I started teaching at small conferences here and there when I was 15, and it wasn’t until 10 years ago that I really felt like I knew what I was doing. When I was teaching at the Debbie Reynolds Performing Arts Studio, I once had to cancel classes, Because only two people would show up. Now, every time one of my classes sells out, I feel grateful and attribute it to the fact that I’ve become a better teacher over the years. You can’t replace experience. The master educator teaches around the world, creates her own dance training methods, and even launches online training programs to share her wisdom more widely.
The Origin of Galen Hooks’ Method
「它開始於一次密集的試鏡：作為一個同時擁有編舞者和表演者視角的人，我想揭開編舞者在試鏡中真正尋找的面紗。 然後人們開始預訂，他們想知道一旦開始工作後該做什麼，所以我做了一次現場強化培訓。 然後一切都開始發展，所以我把它變成了“蓋倫胡克斯方法”。 在我為有抱負的舞者提供的密集課程和專業級課程中，我教他們如何分析一段舞蹈。 如何分解編舞者想要閃耀的例程中的時刻。 如何調整你的臉、眉毛、頭角－下巴應該在的位置。 在課程開始時，舞者會被裁掉，但到課程結束時，他們就會被雇用。 我在世界各地親自教授這些為期兩天的密集課程。 除此之外，我還創建了GHM On-Demand，它可以在線上提供所有這些information.
On creating an inclusive dance space
“My classes are suitable for dancers of all styles, levels and ages. Not everyone is pursuing a career in dance, but everyone is welcome. I have parents who used to dance and didn’t feel comfortable taking classes in a big studio but would like to do it again Experience the joy of movement without putting people in all that negative mental space. My years of experience have given me the confidence to teach anyone, any style, and get the best out of them.
Her advice to aspiring professionals
“Choreographers do crave smart, mature dancers. Many young people have talent, but what are their perspectives? What do they represent? What do their eyes say? How do they move around the room? What if [people] Rocking their backs, rolling their eyes, making faces and other non-emotional movements while dancing all betray that they are not professionals. Smart dancers can meet the choreographer’s demands. Dancers need to discover who they are and work on what looks good on them – especially in front of the camera. Passing on this skill is important and will attract people to book.
