July 21, 2024

Creativity in Screendance | Mike Tyus

Long before the formulation of the world’s first MA in Screendance by the LCDS, the genre had already dated as far back to the early days of cinema. Gene Kelly emerged as a prominent figure during the 1940s and 50s after he starred in and co-directed the classic film "Singin' in the Rain" (1952). In contemporary cinema, dance continues to play a significant role through films such as "Black Swan" (2010), "La La Land" (2016), which have all brought dance back into the spotlight for the next generation of creators to continue evolving.

One such creator is dancer, choreographer, and creative director hailing from the vibrant city of Los Angeles, California - Mike Tyus. Tyus has graced the stages of renowned companies including Cirque Du Soleil, Pilobolus Dance Theater, while collaborating with visionaries like Sidi Larbi Cherkoui and Inbal Pinto. His choreographic style is a captivating fusion of his diverse training, blending elements from circus theater, acrobatics, ballet, and Greco-Roman wrestling to create a truly unique and mesmerizing art form as evidenced with the likes of the LA Dance Project and Joffrey Ballet. In 2020, he established Mike Tyus & Co, a dance company dedicated to bringing his visionary work to life, with an impressive repertoire of over 13 films and a litany of original works and branded commercial campaigns featuring SONY, Apple, and Abercrombie & Fitch.

Continuing a brand new season and month of Dance Choreography, this episode ponders about the ideas and potential of creating dance for the camera, and what it takes to succeed as a screendance choreographer. Ready to discover the filmmaker within you? Join us as we foreground dance in the background!

Soundtracks:

Birds - Tyler Twombly
Poison Ivy Yard Work - Uncle Milk
Courtesy - WolfBeat
Uplifting background music - Saavane

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Chapters

02:13 - Introduction

12:55 - Collaboration is key

23:27 - Communication makes things smooth

33:14 - Critic yourself

Mike Tyus

Choreographer / Dancer / Film Director

An accomplished dancer, choreographer, and creative director hailing from the vibrant city of Los Angeles, California. With over 20 years of experience, he has become a celebrated figure in the world of dance, captivating audiences on both stage and screen.

As a performer, Tyus has graced the stages of renowned productions, including Cirque Du Soleil's "IRIS" at the iconic Kodak Theater in LA and "KOOZA," where he mesmerized audiences as "The Trickster," a devilish ringleader and the lead character. In 2013, Tyus joined the prestigious Pilobolus Dance Theater, collaborating with visionary choreographers like Sidi Larbi Cherkoui, Penn & Teller, and Israeli choreographers Inbal Pinto and Avshalom Pollack. His contributions to the company's repertory continue to be celebrated today. Tyus has also had the privilege of performing in Ryan Heffington's choreography for Sia and gracing the Oscars stage under the direction of Philipe Decoufle. He is a founding member of Jacob Jonas The Company and served as an Associate Producer for Films.Dance, a platform dedicated to pushing the boundaries of dance film through unconventional collaborations.

Tyus' choreographic style is a captivating fusion of his diverse training, blending elements from circus theater, acrobatics, ballet, and Greco-Roman wrestling to create a truly unique and mesmerizing art form. His choreographic portfolio spans across dance companies, museums, and pop stars,. Notable recent works include creations for SuperBlue Museum in Miami commission… Read More