Latest news with #JonMChu
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Tributes pour in as Dancing With The Stars choreographer Dave Scott dies aged 52
Dave Scott, the choreographer in residence on season 8 of Dancing With The Stars, died at the age of 52 on Monday, his family has announced. Born and raised in Compton, California, he had a dazzling career during which he also worked as a resident choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance. He also staged the dances for the movie Step Up 2: The Streets, directed by Jon M Chu. His loved ones announced his death on his Instagram page on Tuesday, one day after it happened, but did not mention his cause of death. They shared a picture of Scott with the words: 'It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Dave Scott, who touched so many lives with his warmth, kindness and spirit. 'During this difficult time we are doing our best to honor his memory in the way he deserves with love, dignity and respect,' they added. 'In lieu of flowers, we ask for donations to contribute towards memorial arrangements and helping us celebrate Dave Scott's life in a meaningful way, with a celebration of life.' They added in the caption: 'Today we have lost an icon, a legend, a father and a dear friend. The weight of this loss will send ripples through time. But his memory and legacy will continue to live on. They touchingly wrote: 'We love you Dave Scott and everything you've accomplished and the joy and comfort you've brought to people will never be forgotten.' The comments were flooded with tributes, including Dancing With The Stars pro Derek Hough, who posted praying and broken heart emojis. Mariah Carey's ex Bryan Tanaka, who was one of her backing dancers for years before they started dating, wrote: 'You inspired so many including me. The power in your movement spoke so many things. I see you.' Glee actor Kevin McHale added: 'Dave was like a big brother to so many of us. When I felt reallllly out of place amongst so many great performers, he always made me comfortable and confident. Watching him dance and teach was a gift.' Another Glee star, Harry Shum Jr, said: 'This one hits hard. 'You gave me so much confidence as a performer and welcomed me with open arms to your dance world that many were inspired by. Thank you for spreading so much joy with your love of dance. May you rest in peace brother Dave.' Scott was behind the dances in a variety of projects like the films You Got Served with Meagan Good and Made Of Honor with Patrick Dempsey, as well as TV shows ranging from So You Think You Can Dance to Bones. Stomp The Yard, the 2007 dance drama starring Meagan Good, Chris Brown, Columbus Short, Ne-Yo and more, was also choreographed by Scott. In addition to his work in movies and TV, Scott was a choreographer for musical artists like Tyrese, Brian McKnight, Ginuwine and Bow Wow. He even staged a dance-off of Miley Cyrus and Mandy Jiroux versus the legendary Australian rock band ACDC at the Teen Choice Awards. Debbie Allen, the star and choreographer of the TV series Fame, hired him as the head of the hip-hop intensive at her dance academy in Los Angeles. His fascination with hip hop dance 'when I was 15 growing up in Compton,' he said during a 2008 interview with Dance magazine. 'Everybody was doing B-boy moves. It started off on my street. We took a bike ramp down, put cardboard down and started doing back stands and all of that kind of stuff.' He recalled: 'I learned how to dance by watching TV, watching videos and stuff like that. My favorite was Michael Jackson. It was ridiculous. I watched all of his videos and redid the choreography and added on stuff.' Scott noted that: 'I was always creative because I taught myself how to dance. So I always had the desire to create something and choreograph.' He added: 'When I started dancing, I got a tour. Then I just started adding pieces of choreography to the tour. But, really, I have always been, from the time I started to dance, more of a creator a choreographer.' Scott described his work as a 'triple reward because when I do my choreography, I always put myself in the audience and act like, "What can wow me?" And so I do the choreography, and then the reward is that you see what you created come to life.' He added: "The second reward is, a lot of people choreograph, but they really don't dance. Third, I dance hard, like pretty much harder than the people I hire. To be a part of it, it's a good feeling.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Dancing With The Stars choreographer Dave Scott dead at 52: Beloved talent also worked with Wicked director
Dave Scott, the choreographer in residence on season eight of Dancing With The Stars, has died at the age of just 52. Born and raised in Compton, he enjoyed a dazzling career during which he also worked as a resident choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance. He also staged the dances for Step Up 2: The Streets, helmed by Jon M. Chu, who went on to direct Crazy Rich Asians and the two-part film adaptation of Wicked. His loved ones announced his passing on his Instagram page this Tuesday, one day after the fact, but did not specify a cause of death. 'It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Dave Scott, who touched so many lives with his warmth, kindness and spirit,' they wrote. 'During this difficult time we are doing our best to honor his memory in the way he deserves with love, dignity and respect,' they added. 'In lieu of flowers, we ask for donations to contribute towards memorial arrangements and helping us celebrate Dave Scott's life in a meaningful way, with a celebration of life,' they concluded underneath a picture of Scott. Their caption offered the additional message: 'Today we have lost an icon, a legend, a father and a dear friend. The weight of this loss will send ripples through time. But his memory and legacy will continue to live on.' They touchingly wrote: 'We love you Dave Scott and everything you've accomplished and the joy and comfort you've brought to people will never be forgotten.' Friends flooded into the comments to express their grief, including Dancing With The Stars pro Derek Hough, who posted praying and broken heart emoji. Mariah Carey's ex Bryan Tanaka, who was one of her backup dancers for years before they started dating, wrote: 'You inspired so many including me. The power in your movement spoke so many things. I see you.' 'Dave was like a big brother to so many of us,' wrote Glee actor Kevin McHale. 'When I felt reallllly out of place amongst so many great performers, he always made me comfortable and confident. Watching him dance and teach was a gift.' 'This one hits hard,' added another Glee star, Harry Shum Jr. 'You gave me so much confidence as a performer and welcomed me with open arms to your dance world that many were inspired by. Thank you for spreading so much joy with your love of dance. May you rest in peace brother Dave.' Scott was behind the dances in a variety of projects like the films You Got Served with Meagan Good and Made Of Honor with Patrick Dempsey, as well as television series ranging from So You Think You Can Dance to Bones. Stomp The Yard, the 2007 dance drama starring Meagan Good, Chris Brown, Columbus Short, Ne-Yo and more, was also choreographed by Scott. In addition to his work in movies and TV, Scott choreographed for musical artists like Tyrese, Brian McKnight, Ginuwine and Bow Wow. He even staged a dance-off of Miley Cyrus and Mandy Jiroux versus the legendary Australian rock band ACDC at the Teen Choice Awards. Debbie Allen, the star and choreographer of the TV series Fame, hired him as the head of the hip-hop intensive at her dance academy in Los Angeles. His fascination with hip hop dance 'when I was 15 growing up in Compton,' he said during a 2008 interview with Dance magazine. 'Everybody was doing B-boy moves. It started off on my street. We took a bike ramp down, put cardboard down and started doing back stands and all of that kind of stuff.' He recalled: 'I learned how to dance by watching TV, watching videos and stuff like that. My favorite was Michael Jackson. It was ridiculous. I watched all of his videos and redid the choreography and added on stuff.' Scott noted that he 'I was always creative because I taught myself how to dance. So I always had the desire to create something and choreograph.' He shared that 'when I started dancing, I got a tour. Then I just started adding pieces of choreography to the tour. But, really, I have always been, from the time I started to dance, more of a creator a choreographer.' Scott described his work as a 'triple reward because when I do my choreography, I always put myself in the audience and act like: "What can wow me?" And so I do the choreography, and then the reward is that you see what you created come to life.' He added: "The second reward is, a lot of people choreograph, but they really don't dance. Third, I dance hard, like pretty much harder than the people I hire. To be a part of it, it's a good feeling.'
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Cynthia Erivo opens up about how her life changed after Wicked
The Tony Award-winning actress and singer has been in the spotlight for years, but she reached a new level of fame when she played Elphaba in Jon M. Chu's 2024 film adaptation of Wicked. Cynthia told Billboard that she remains committed to protecting her privacy despite suddenly becoming a household name. "I think there is an interesting thing that happens, where it's assumed that because you're in the public eye, everything is for everyone.' "But being in the public eye does not stop you from being a human being…'
Geek Feed
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Feed
Why aren't Dorothy's Slippers Red in Wicked: For Good?
Wicked starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo was one of the biggest movies to come out last year, ad Universal is set to close the story with the sequel Wicked: For Good . The movie is set to come out this November, and we have a new trailer which showcases the aftermath of the events of The Wizard of Oz , but fans have noticed one odd detail. Check this out: Instead of the ruby red slippers that Dorothy wore in the original movie, she's instead wearing silver heels—the same ones that Nessarose wore in the first movie. While some would hope that they would keep the iconic red slippers, it is speculated that Universal wasn't allowed to use them, seeing that the original movie is currently owned by Warner Bros—and the red slippers were something they made for the film since it popped better onscreen; in the original books, the slippers were silver. Though some think that they could have just made some kind of deal like they did with Spider-Man and Marvel, director Jon M. Chu told Variety that it was always his plan to steer away from the ruby shoes—they did reference it in the Popular musical number in the first movie. It's funny that these Wizard of Oz adaptations try to stick close to the books because the movie is owned by another studio, but ultimately the original film is so influential to the story that they can't help but be inspired by it—from Dorothy's look to the citizens and appearance of the Emerald City. Either way, if it gets more people to check out the original film, I'm sure these new Wicked movies would have done their job. Catch Wicked: For Good when it comes to cinemas on Nov. 21.
Geek Girl Authority
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
WICKED: FOR GOOD Drops Wickedly Good First Trailer
Few shows have ever been or will likely ever be as highly anticipated as Wicked: For Good. As the second half of Jon M. Chu's adaptation of the Broadway stage show, itself a loose adaptation of Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, it hits a sweet spot of fandoms. With powerhouse stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande portraying protagonist Elphaba Thropp and initial rival and later friend Glinda Upland, respectively, the film's musical pedigree is anchored. Indisputably, Chu's vision of Oz is a worthy heir to 1939's The Wizard of Oz, a groundbreaking piece of cinema when it first premiered. RELATED: GGA Crush of the Week: Elphaba Thropp Wicked: For Good arrives in theaters on November 21. Wicked: Part 1 ended with Elphaba breaking away from the pack, rejecting the Wizard's (Jeff Goldblum) offer to help subjugate Oz under his rule with her powers. Always able to pivot, the Wizard turns her into a villain he can pit the people against. This buoys his popularity and distracts from the real problems in Oz. Image Credit: Universal Pictures Wicked: For Good At the heart of the story is Elphaba and Glinda's friendship, painted on the lore established in The Wizard of Oz . Wicked: For Good picks up with Oz's residents taking up arms and a contagious mob mentality against Elphaba, now branded by the Wizard as 'The Wicked Witch of the West.' Glinda has retained a place of societal status. Secretly, she remains friends with Elphaba. Meanwhile, the magnificent Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) continues to spin her spells on the Wizard's behalf. Image Credit: Universal Pictures RELATED: It's Gonna Be Popular: First Wicked Trailer Debuts Glinda's popularity and social savviness make her the obvious choice as the Wizard poster girl for 'Good.' This includes marrying Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), now the head of the Wizard's army, and appearing to be as magical as Elphaba thanks to the Wizard's gadgetry. Image Credit: Universal Pictures Elphaba lives a solitary life, hiding from the Wizard while honing her powers with the help of the Grimmerie, the tome of magical knowledge. Unseen in the trailer are her sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode) and the Munchkin Boq (Ethan Slater). As tragic as their story is, one wonders if it'll factor into Chu's narrative. There are, however, many Animals in what can only be assumed to be a revolution of sorts. World Building Brilliantly, Wicked: Part 1 and Wicked: For Good not only build the backstory for the familiar characters and relationships of Oz, they literally lay the foundation for major infrastructure developments. The Wizard understands the benefits of keeping the populace busy, after all. In the trailer, we see Elphaba lay a hand on the gold-painted bricks that eventually form that infamous road to the Emerald City. Image Credit: Universal Pictures Perhaps the most tantalizing scenes in the trailer are those of Dorothy Gale (Alisha Weir). Two iconic moments are reimagined for Wicked fans. There's a far-away shot of Dorothy setting out on her journey with Toto and some enthusiastic Munchkins (presumably after parking her house on Nessarose). The one that sent chills down my spine is the four of them standing in front of the Wizard's mechanical talking head. Remembering the anxiety the original characters felt in The Wizard of Oz , it's pretty horrifying to realize the man behind the puppetry is much scarier. Image Credit: Universal Pictures RELATED: Wicked 's Newest Trailer Defies Gravity There's also an enigmatic shot of the silver slippers as someone walks across a wet floor wearing them. Is it Dorothy (as the ankle socks seem to indicate), or could it be that moment for Nessarose? Get Ready to Thank Goodness The nearly three-minute-long trailer packs in a lot of plot points. One slightly spoilery one shows Fiyero revealing his true allegiance. What isn't rushed is the lavish production value. The sweeping shots of the lavish setting are just as breathtaking as Wicked: Part 1. And, of course, soundtracking it with clips of Erivo's 'No Good Deed' and Grande's 'For Good' only stokes the flames of fan fervor. Can Wicked: For Good defy gravity even more than Wicked: Part 1 did? Besides dropping this trailer, the publicity team also opened the soundtrack's pre-save option online. Wicked: For Good hits theaters November 21. Cecilia Lee on the Wild Ride That Is FEAR STREET: PROM QUEEN Diana lives in Vancouver, BC, Canada, where she invests her time and energy in teaching, writing, parenting, and indulging her love of all Trek and a myriad of other fandoms. She is a lifelong fan of smart sci-fi and fantasy media, an upstanding citizen of the United Federation of Planets, and a supporter of AFC Richmond 'til she dies. Her guilty pleasures include female-led procedurals, old-school sitcoms, and Bluey. She teaches, knits, and dreams big. You can also find her writing at The Televixen, Women at Warp, TV Fanatic, and TV Goodness.
