Article By Jen Jones | May 1, 2007 from DanceSpirit.com
Rarely does a dancer inspire the same kind of fan frenzy as the singers they back up onstage. Yet wherever Misha Gabriel goes—from conventions to concert venues—he leaves a trail of new admirers in his wake.
One look at Misha in action leaves little doubt about the source of the hype. Equally at home pirouetting and popping, Misha fuses his classical ballet training with an innate hip-hop sensibility. The result is a silky smooth, light-footed, seemingly effortless way of moving. When asked about his influences, Misha cites mentor Brian Friedman, likening both of their dance styles to a “jazz/funk–tinged, sexy, almost girly hip hop.”
Named Co. Dance’s “Performer of the Year” and Urban Jamm’s “Most Well-Rounded Dancer” in years past, Misha is currently balancing his convention instruction work—he teaches at Starpower and Monsters of HipHop—with an increasing commercial presence. Recent projects include dancing in Omarion’s “Ice Box” and Beyoncé’s “Get Me Bodied” music videos, Janet Jackson’s “20 Y.O.” tour, and choreographing a piece for Justin Timberlake “FutureSex/LoveShow” tour. Get to know this versatile dancer (formerly known as Misha Hamilton) as he dishes on his dance life.
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Though Janet Jackson had not performed the choreography from “Scream” since she and her brother Michael shot the video in 1995, it couldn’t have been a more fitting tribute to him. Jackson talked about the making of that video along with how she prepared for the Video Music Awards in the half-hour special “The Making of Janet Jackson’s VMA Tribute Performance,” which aired on September 19.
REMOVE THAT SCARF! YOUR HANDSOME!
Awww…
