Shane Sparks

Infobox Person
name = Shane Sparks


image_size =
caption = Shane Sparks, 2008
birth_date = 1974 (age 34)
birth_place = Cincinnati, Ohio
occupation = Hip Hop Choreographer
parents = Wanda and Melvin Sparks

Shane Sparks (born 1974) is a hip hop choreographer best known for his work as a judge and choreographer on the American television dance competition " So You Think You Can Dance" and "America's Best Dance Crew". He has also won the American Choreography Award for being co-choreographer of the 2004 film, "You Got Served".

Biography

Sparks was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, the youngest of three children to Wanda and Melvin Sparks, police officers. He has two older sisters, Rene and Buffy. Sparks started dancing at the age of 11, when he attended a local Easter Ball.cite web|url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/so-you-think-you-can-dance/exclusive-interview-shane-spar-7307.aspx | title=Exclusive Interview: Shane Sparks, judge from So You Think You Can Dance|accessdate=2007-06-22|date=June 13, 2007|author=Oscar Dahl|publisher=buddytv.com] Hooked on dancing from that point on, he performed in hometown talent shows and high school showcases, performing such dances as The Robot, The Running Man, and the Cabbage Patch Kid, and holding rehearsals in his backyard.cite web|url=http://lastheplace.com/2007/06/10/shane-sparks-the-dance-ambassador/|title=Interview with Shane Sparks|date=June 10, 2007|publisher="Los Angeles" magazine|accessdate=2007-06-22|author=Marvin Mills] When his sister's boyfriend was murdered, dancing became even more important to Sparks, as it was his way to escape and feel safe.cite news|url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/06132007/tv/shane_gang_tv_farrah_weinstein.htm |title=Shane Gang |date=June 13, 2007|publisher="New York Post"|accessdate=2007-06-22] ] Other dancers that inspired him included Pop n' Taco, Bob Fosse, Fred Astaire, Michael Jackson, and Paula Abdul.

After graduating from Aiken Sr. High, Sparks moved to Los Angeles in 1993, at the age of 19, to explore a new career. He was part of a dance group named Cold Krush (named after the New York group Cold Krush) that performed in talent shows, then became a singing group called the Cold Premiere, was signed to Giant Records and made a film and some videos, but eventually disbanded. Around this time he was featured in the "I Wanna Be Down" video by R&B artist Brandy Norwood. Sparks then went to a dance tryout at the Millennium Dance Complex (formerly known as Moro Landis) in North Hollywood. When the teacher to one of the hip hop classes was late, someone saw Sparks standing around in a baseball cap and baggy shirt, assumed he was a teacher, and asked him to teach the class. According to Sparks, he had no choreography experience up to that point, and "It was one of those things that changed my life. I didn't even know how to count [in eights] ." When the real teacher arrived 15 minutes later, he drafted Sparks as his assistant, and then when the original teacher moved to Japan a week later, Sparks took his place. Under his tenure, the class grew from three students to ten, to two classes a week, to four classes a week, to the biggest class in Los Angeles, breaking records with over 175 students. Sparks then began getting work as a choreographer for venues such as the American Music Awards, as well as getting a modeling and dancing contract with L'Oréal's Matrix hair products. He has worked with artists such as Aaliyah, Monica, Lindsay Lohan and Benji Schwimmer. [ [http://www.ipressroom.com/pr/aca/info/Shane-Sparks.asp Shane Sparks / The American Choreography Awards ] ] He also worked as a choreographer on the film "You Got Served", and was a judge at the 2004 World Hip Hop Championship.

Sparks is known for his signature hats, and as of 2006 has his own brand name, "S Style".

In 2006-2007, Sparks was one of several choreographers including Brian Friedman, Mia Michaels, Cris Judd, Laurie Ann Gibson and Wade Robson for a two-day hip hop dance workshop, "The Pulse", held in cities across America. One of the workshops in 2006 had 200 attendees, and another workshop in 2007 had over 900.

According to an interview at aris-dance.com, Sparks' upcoming projects include the movie "ByLar" and the TV show, "The Pit". [http://www.aris-dance.com/thoughts-archive12.html] In an interview for "Los Angeles" magazine, Sparks said he was working with Chris Stokes on the upcoming film "Backdown", a sequel to "You Got Served" which is scheduled to begin shooting in July 2007.

Is currently dating Francia Almendarez from Bring it on:All or Nothing and The Secret Life of the American Teenager.

o You Think You Can Dance

Sparks is best known for being one of the judges and choreographers on the American television program "So You Think You Can Dance", where he was hand-picked by executive producer Nigel Lythgoe. Sparks was one of the choreographers in the 2005 and 2006 seasons, and was promoted to judge/choreographer in the 2007 season, where critics have praised him for his personality and energy. One of the touching moments during the 2007 auditions was when Bryan Gaynor, a computer-science student whose spine was twisted with scoliosis, came to try out. Though his range of movement was extremely limited, he managed an impressive robotic routine to Christina Aguilera's "Ain't No Other Man", that astonished and impressed all of the judges, especially Sparks. Gaynor did not have enough dancing skill to continue past that day of the auditions, but Sparks gave him a soft rejection, by simultaneously offering him a job as a featured dancer in the upcoming film that Sparks will be choreographing, "Backdown".cite web|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20040769_20040772_20041100,00.html|author=Adam B. Vary|accessdate=2007-06-22|title=Strictly Y'allroom|date=2007|publisher="Entertainment Weekly"] According to "TV Guide", Gaynor has accepted the role.cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/news/think-dance-hotter/070620-02 |title=Why So You Think You Can Dance Is Hotter Than Ever|date=June 20, 2007|author=Dani Dornfeld and Sabrina Rojas Weiss|accessdate=2007-06-22|publisher="TV Guide"]

America's Best Dance Crew

Sparks is currently a permanent judge on MTV's dance competition America's Best Dance Crew. There are currently two seasons of this show, season one named the dance group the JabbaWockeeZ as America's Best Dance Crew. Sparks was also present for the crowning of season 2 champions Super Cr3w.

References

External links

* [http://www.theofficialshanesparks.com Official site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/shanesparks Sparks MySpace page]
*
* [http://www.cleartalentgroup.com/LA_Choreography.htm Choreography video at the Clear Talent Group website]
* [http://www.americansuperstarmag.com/arts/Sept07/Shane_Sparks.php Shane Sparks (interview in American Superstar Magazine)]
* [http://laist.com/2008/07/22/laist_interview_choreographer_shane.php LAist Interview: Shane Sparks]