It might be a disservice to Galen Hooks to chalk her magnetism as much as one thing as elusive as an “X issue.” With over 20 years {of professional} expertise, 70-plus efficiency and choreography credit dripping in A-list celebrities, a social media footprint with greater than 300 million views and counting, and recurrently sold-out grasp lessons across the globe, Hooks has put within the work. With out skipping a single step, she discovered success, and desires the identical for you.
Hooks spent her early dance coaching at two competitors studios in Walnut, California: Advantageous Arts and Dellos Performing Arts Heart. At 7 years previous she went on “Star Search” with a dance group known as Women of Paradise. (In keeping with Hooks, they have been Junior Dance Champions with eight episodes straight because the winners, and 4 stars each time.) She then signed with an agent and commenced coaching at main Los Angeles–based mostly dance studios like Edge Performing Arts Heart, Moro Landis (now Millennium), and Tremaine Dance at 9 years previous. “I used to be in a faucet firm with Gregg Russell, and a jazz firm that Marguerite Derricks and Michael Rooney ran,” she says. “I used to be very lucky to have lecturers of that caliber from a younger age.” At 9, she was in a Montell Jordan music video, at 10 she was in a film known as Mrs. Santa Clause, and at 11 she danced on Nickelodeon. By the point she was 15, Hooks was forged within the job of a lifetime: Austin Powers in Goldmember. She hasn’t stopped working since.
Regardless of the loopy schedule that comes from fixed bookings (up to now she’s labored with Britney Spears, Usher, Jennifer Lopez, Camila Cabello, Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran, Miley Cyrus, Coldplay, Janet Jackson, Chris Brown, Rihanna, John Legend, and extra), Hooks graduated from highschool, and even went on to earn a bachelor of arts in regulation and society from Penn State. “Once I did the Tremendous Bowl with Janet Jackson [2004], I used to be 17 and I spent rehearsal breaks learning within the nook,” she says. “I studied on the bus whereas touring with Snoop Canine, and graduated from faculty whereas working as an assistant choreographer on Camp Rock.” Whereas some would possibly argue industrial dancers want to decide on between dance and better schooling, Hooks is right here to set the document straight. “My dance profession and schooling have fed into each other,” she says. “I paid for my schooling via the cash I made performing, and learning regulation was instrumental to my time because the chair of Dancers Alliance, in addition to my time on the SAG-AFTRA board.”
Past the deserves of excellent coaching and a school diploma, Hooks desires dancers in 2024 to pay shut consideration to her timeline as a choreographer. “I adopted the standard journey from dancer to assistant [for Marguerite Derricks, Jamaica Craft, Jamie King, Andre Fuentes, among others] to affiliate choreographer to choreographer,” she says, including, “[Dancers should not] simply go from studio dancer to choreographer. There’s a lot to be taught earlier than you get to that time.” She has comparable emotions with regards to turning into a grasp educator. “I began educating at little conventions right here and there after I was 15 years previous, and it wasn’t till 10 years in the past that I actually felt like I knew what I used to be doing. I used to must cancel my lessons after I taught at Debbie Reynolds Performing Arts Studio as a result of solely two folks would present up. Each time I’ve a sold-out class now, I really feel grateful and attribute it to the truth that I’ve develop into a greater trainer through the years. You possibly can’t exchange expertise.” Now, Hooks teaches world wide as a grasp educator, has created her personal dance coaching technique, and even launched a web based coaching program to share her knowledge extra broadly.
On the Origins of the Galen Hooks Methodology
“It began as an audition intensive: As somebody with the angle of each a choreographer and a performer, I wished to carry the veil off what choreographers truly search for in auditions. Then folks began reserving, they usually wished to know what to do as soon as they have been on the job, so I did an on-set intensive. Then it began to develop, so I turned it into ‘the Galen Hooks Methodology.’ In my intensives and pro-level lessons for aspiring dancers, I educate them easy methods to analyze a bit of choreography. Tips on how to break down the moments in a routine that the choreographer desires to shine. What to do on your face, your eyebrows, your head angle—the place your chin needs to be. Initially of sophistication, the dancers would have been lower, however by the top of sophistication, they’re employed. I educate these two-day-long intensives, in particular person, all world wide. Along with that, I’ve created GHM On-Demand, which makes all of that info accessible on-line.”
On Creating Inclusive Dance Areas
“My lessons are for each model, stage, and age of dancer. Not everyone seems to be pursuing a dance profession, and everyone seems to be welcome. I’ve dad and mom who used to bounce who don’t really feel comfy going to large studios to take class however need to expertise the enjoyment of motion once more with out the entire destructive psychological areas folks can fall into. My years of expertise have allowed me to really feel very assured in educating anybody, any model, and pulling one of the best out of them.”
Her Recommendation for Aspiring Professionals
“Choreographers are actually craving good, mature dancers. A variety of younger individuals are gifted, however what’s their viewpoint? What do they stand for? What are their eyes saying? How do they stroll within the room? If [people] dance with a sway-back or do eye rolls and pull faces that aren’t emotionally motivated, these are lifeless giveaways that they aren’t professionals. A sensible dancer delivers what the choreographer is asking for. Dancers should be discovering who they’re and learning what appears to be like nice on them—particularly on digital camera. Passing that ability down is de facto necessary and can get folks reserving.”