- Jeffrey Vinokur
-
Jeffrey Vinokur 
Born August 24, 1990
Montvale, New JerseyResidence Madison, Wisconsin Known for Popping, science demonstrations Title The Dancing Scientist ™
TheRussianTigerWebsite www.DancingScientist.com Jeffrey Vinokur (born August 24, 1990), who also goes by the stage name The Dancing Scientist, is an American science educator known for combining the hip hop dance genre of popping with live science demonstrations. He has performed his science and dance act on America's Got Talent[1] and at venues such as the Liberty Science Center,[2] the Maryland Science Center,[3] the Saint Louis Science Center,[4] the World Science Festival,[5] and the grand opening of the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery.[6] He has also appeared on CW 11 News[7] CBS News,[4][8][9] and Fox 2 News.[10] His mentors include physicist Clint Sprott.[2] In 2009 he founded the Madison Dance Conference at the University of Wisconsin–Madison,[4][11][12] and his online Popping videos have accumulated over 10 million hits.[1][2]
Contents
Early life
Jeffrey Vinokur was born in 1990 and raised in Montvale, New Jersey to Russian parents.[2][12] He developed an interest in science while attending school, first at Fieldstone Middle School and then Pascack Hills High School.[12]
While a senior in high school[1] he began watching online videos and DVDs on hip hop dancing, and after six months of practice traveled to New York City, where he learned the sub-genre of hip-hop dancing "popping" from dancers such as Jazzy J of The Electric Boogaloos, Dementia of ABM Crew, Future Ninja of House of Ninja, and Hit Master Fish of G-Style.[4] Afterwards he began posting instructional dance videos on YouTube under the username "TheRussianTiger,"[4] and the videos have since garnered millions of views.[1][2]
In 2008 Vinokur began attending the University of Wisconsin–Madison as a biochemistry major.[13] While in college he founded the dance group Freestyle Funk Sessions, began leading the campus dance crew Rhythm Per Second, and in fall of 2009 founded the Madison Dance Conference.[4][11][12]
Science shows
In January 2010 he was given the idea to combine science demonstrations and hip hop dancing into a stage show by a stranger on an airplane.[4][12] Vinokur contacted UW Chemistry professor Bassam Shakhashiri for help creating a safe performance, and within two weeks developed an act to audition for the fifth season of America's Got Talent.[12] Vinokur also consulted with chemist Jim Maynard on how to safely incorporate features such as hydrogen-filled balloons that explode near a flame.[1]
Vinokur successfully auditioned in front of the executive producers in Atlanta, being called back to perform his routine in Chicago.[12] After making the top 100, he performed on air in front of Howie Mandel, Sharon Osbourne, and Piers Morgan in Las Vegas.[2][12] He appeared in episodes 508, 511,[citation needed] and 512.[14]
Touring
In May 2011 Vinokur embarked on a nation-wide tour of his show dubbed "So You Think You Can Do Science?" The tour was sponsored by the science company Fotodyne Inc.[4] Stops included the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey,[2] Maryland Science Center in Baltimore, Maryland,[3] the Saint Louis Science Center in Saint Louis, MO,[4] and over twenty schools.[2] He also performed at the World Science Festival on June 5, 2011 in Washington Square Park,[5] and at the grand opening of the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery.[6] He was also featured in a "Wonder of Physics" show put on by UW Physics professor and mentor Clint Sprott.[2]
News spots
Since 2010, Vinokur has performed on television programs such as CW 11 News in Saint Louis,[7] CBS News in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,[9] and Fox 2 News in Saint Louis.[10] He also performs a monthly segment on the CBS News in Madison, Wisconsin.[4][8]
Show description
Features he has incorporated into his show include a live DJ playing hip hop music,[4][15] dancing, and science demonstrations.[15] The show covers topics such as alternative energy, polymers, careers in science, acids and bases, and others.[15] Common demonstrations involved adding catalysts to make hydrogen peroxide burst into foam, dancing on a mixture of cornstarch and water, using an Airzooka to demonstrate air movement with rings of fog,[2] exploding balloons, glow in the dark hands to illustrate chemiluminescence.[1]
Personal life
Vinokur continues to study biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.[2][12]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f Forster, Stacy (September 15, 2010). "UW-Madison student mixes passions for science, dancing". University of Wisconsin-Madison. http://www.news.wisc.edu/18408. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Science Onstage". Grow. Summer 2011. http://www.grow2.uwcalscommunication.com/departments/on-henry-mall/science-onstage. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
- ^ a b Stein, Betsy (June 9, 2011). "Watch a mad scientist and more at Carnival Science Days at Maryland Science Center". Maryland Family Magazine. http://www.marylandfamilymagazine.com/2011/06/09/watch-a-mad-sceintist-and-more-at-carnival-science-days-at-maryland-science-center/. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Interview with Jeffrey Vinokur/The Russian Tiger/Dancing Scientist". DancersGlobal. http://dancersglobal.com/tag/jeffrey-vinokur/. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
- ^ a b Ferri, Amanda (May 18, 2011). "World Science Festival Hosts Family Street Fair". NearSay. http://newyork.nearsay.com/tag/jeffrey-vinokur. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
- ^ a b Parkzer, Adam (December 11, 2010). "Dancing Mad Scientist Jeffrey Vinokur at Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery". The Badger Herald. http://badgerherald.com/news/2010/12/11/dancing_mad_scientis.php. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
- ^ a b Ricks, Thomas (May 20, 2011). "Pictures: Dancing Mad Scientist". CW 11 News, Saint Louis. http://www.kplr11.com/kplr-pictures-dancing-mad-scientist-20110520,0,2508878.photogallery. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
- ^ a b "Video: UW Students Gives Tips About Chemistry of Cooking". CBS News, Madison WI. March 4, 2011. http://video.channel3000.com/watch.php?id=34037. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
- ^ a b Matovina, Laura (May 19, 2011). "Video: Dancing Mad Scientist in Milwaukee". CBS News, Milwaukee WI. http://www.cbs58.com/index.php?aid=17435. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
- ^ a b "Dancing Mad Scientist Will Be at Science Center". Fox 2 News. May 20, 2011. http://www.fox2now.com/news/morningshow/timezell/ktvi-dancing-mad-scientist-science-center-20110520,0,3614380.story. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
- ^ a b "Forming a Dance Community". Madison Dance Conference. November 21, 2010. http://www.madisondanceconference.com/about.html. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Sartor, Michelle (August 5, 2010). "So you Think You Can Do Science". Pascack Valley Community Life. http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:iWWSVF0y3-UJ:www.team1676.com/files/news/09-10/PVCommunityLife--8-5-10.pdf+jeffrey+vinokur&hl=en&gl=us. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
- ^ Worland, Gayle (November 20, 2010). "Madison Dance Conference to feature free lessons and performances". Wisconsin State Journal. http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/article_93450198-f46c-11df-8f10-001cc4c03286.html. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
- ^ "America's Got Talent: Episode 512 Recap". TV.com. http://www.tv.com/americas-got-talent/episode-512/episode/1348573/recap.html. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
- ^ a b c "Dancing Scientist". Academic Entertainment. http://academicentertainment.com/dancingmadscientist. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
External links
Categories:- Living people
- 1990 births
- Chemists
- Popping dancers
- American dancers
- People from New Jersey
- Breakdancers
- America's Got Talent contestants
- Participants in American reality television series
- American scientists
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