 |
|
|
|
|
CHRIS PAYNE DUPRE
|
Chris Payne Dupre
World Class Choreographer and Master Teacher
-Two things: Two Mantras that I live by…
1. It’s all about preparation and opportunity
2. A very wise person told me many years ago “Amateurs rehearse till they get it right, professionals rehearse till they can’t get it wrong” – Two people come to mind immediately when I think of this: Janet Jackson and Jason Alexander. Tina Landon would change the choreography and Janet would always have it first, and perfect; and Jason is brilliant, a total triple threat!
| Q: | To whom or to what do you credit your success in the industry? | | A: | The person who introduced me to the business as a kid. A friend of my mom connected me with Different Strokes TV Star Todd Bridge’s dad, who used to run an agency – that’s how I got my start – beyond that it was tenacity and focus. My good friend, Brian Friedman, hired me to be the Supervising Choreographer for the TV Show ‘America’s Got Talent’, which breathed new life into my career. |
| Q: | What has been the most fulfilling project in your career so far? | | A: | Dancing for Janet Jackson on the MTV Awards (she’s part of the reason that I danced). When my dream came true, it was overwhelmingly brilliant for me. Also, I directed a web series and realized how fulfilling that was, and a step in the right direction. I didn’t always understand directing, but really found a home behind the camera (much helped by spending some time shadowing Kenny Ortega). The third thing was getting cast for Paula Abdul’s tour (Paula is the direct reason Chris Dupre dances – his first inspiration) She made me want to strive to be a better performer and get better technique. |
| Q: | In your opinion, what would you recommend dancers do when they graduate high school? Go to NY, LA, and University? | | A: | I think it’s extremely hard to combine the two (school, and a dance career) because dancers enroll in college, start schooling, and then decide they’re going to audition for dance work. They end up booking a job, and then leave school for the job. I also have friends who put themselves through law school dancing. I think it’s up to the individual – how much focus, and drive they have. I personally went the dance route – my family owned two businesses and knew that I could always have a fall back or go to school. You should go with your passion because having a back up plan sometimes turns in to a back up plan to fail. If you have an alternate interest, yes pursue it, if you are an intellect and you want to pursue your studies, definitely do that; but don’t do it as a backup plan. |
| Q: | What advice would you give to dancers just breaking into the business? | | A: | I think if there’s opportunity to observe an audition before you actually audition, do it. I think sitting and watching, you’ll learn so much of what to do, what to wear, what not to do, the reality of an audition will set in. So many people diving into it don’t pay attention to how they’re presenting themselves. If dancers could pick up a book in PR and Marketing, it would be so much of an easier way to go – a good portion of this business is so much of not whom you know, but who knows you. The “Business” side of things is a completely separate, but as important, hustle. |
| Q: | What catches your eye in a dancer, either in class or at an audition? | | A: | Somebody who has natural ability, somebody who is focused and paying attention rather than being the class clown or opening their mouth just because, and somebody who has fire. Somebody who’s going to take my choreography, digest it, and not give me what I gave them; but give me what I gave them with themselves infused in it so it comes to life and becomes tangible. It’s not necessarily doing more – the fire makes me not want to turn away from you. |
| Q: | What was it like working as the supervising Choreographer for America's Got Talent? | | A: | That job is a BEAST! I love it! It’s brilliant to be able to work with so many different choreographers – I choreographed sections of the show, and then we brought in guest choreographers to work hand in hand with me. |
| Q: | If you were a dancer looking to audition for Americas Got Talent, do you have any advice? | | A: | First and foremost, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is one million dollars and a headlining show in Vegas – it’s brilliant! But I think so many people come on just to get television exposure, but don’t come thinking with their eye on the prize. You have to come in with a Vegas show in mind – think what is Vegas missing that I can add to it, and what do I have that is unique, and what will definitely set me a part from the status quo. I would love to see another Gene Kelly step forward and take over that stage, so that the world can see that we’re not pigeon holed into one thing. |
| Q: | How do you feel about the 2011 Adrenaline season? | | A: | I’m very excited for the new season, I will never give up giving back to my dance community; working with youth and the next growing dance stars. For me, I now own a production company, True Vision Entertainment and a sound stage called True Vision Studios and it’s kind of like a playground for artists to explore. Somebody said to me at The Edge (where Chris holds weekly class) one time, ”You know what I love about your class? You never know what you’re gonna get”, and that’s the same at Adrenaline – the style is always going to be varied. I may be slated as a lyrical teacher, but I’m always going to try to be experimental, and push the boundaries with my lyrical movement without necessarily changing the genre. I’d like to expand the genre! |
| Q: | What do you think are the benefits of Adrenaline’s online, on-demand classes? ? | | A: | I think they’re amazing for somebody where dance is not so easily accessible. I grew up in South Central, LA, and you’d think dance would be extremely accessible for me, but at the same time I didn’t know where to look originally. As a kid it would’ve given me the ability to start building before I even stepped into a class, and it’s wonderful because you can go back and watch it again and again for repetition. |
| Q: | Where do you see yourself in 5 years? | | A: | I see myself winning an Emmy, on my way to winning an Oscar, doing more choreography and a lot more Directing. I’m open to whatever life has in store for me. I know what I’m built to do and know where the direction I’m going is – I’ll leave it open just enough so, that say, ‘Entertainment Tonight’ wants me as a correspondent, I’ll do it. I’m laying the bricks to manifest my destiny. |
|
|
|
StageDoorAccess.com •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
|
