Charles Klapow

At 44 years old, Charles Klapow has this physical status:

Charles "Chucky" Klapow (born July 5, 1980) is an American choreographer and dance instructor who has performed and choreographed for various performers and several television and stage productions.

He is also known for his teachings of the mental approach to dance.

Klapow's mother is Filipino and his father is Russian American.

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Life and career

Klapow began dancing at the age of 12, performing for Patti LaBelle, Celine Dion, Sheila E., Salt-N-Pepa, Melissa Etheridge, and others in an all-star concert for the Pediatric AIDS Foundation. In the Paula Abdul music video "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah," there was a dancing spot. By the time he was 15, Charles was an assistant to choreographer and mentor Marguerite Derricks. Among other things, he assisted Marguerite and danced in Austin Powers: The International Man of Mystery (1997), 3rd Rock from the Sun, Fame L.A., and others. In the mid-1990s, Charles formed L.A. Dance Company with partner Wade Robson. Photographs.

Klapow began choreographing for the Swedish pop group A*Teens in the fall of 2000. "Floorfiller," "Halfway Around The World," "Sugar Rush," "Can't Help Falling In Love," and "I Promised Myself," as well as their tour guide and choreographer from 2001-2003. These tours took Charles to Germany, Sweden, and every other nation, with additional spot dates in Mexico, Spain, Russia, and Denmark.

Ever since the WNBA Charles' inaugural season, he has been a choreographer for the "Sparkids," the hip hop squad that appears at all Los Angeles Sparks home games. Klapow became co-director of the squad under Christy Buss' direction in 2005, and he took over the Sparkids' choreography duties in 2005 and 2006.

Kenny Ortega (Dirty Dancing choreographer) was hired to help choreograph High School Musical (2006), a Disney Channel Original Film starring Bonnie Story. Ortega became a mentor to Klapow as they quickly established a working chemistry together. Klapow spent time as a choreographer for the film's sequels, including High School Musical 2 and Musical 3: Senior Year. He can be seen in all High School Musical films as a dancer and player of the school basketball team as well. He also began to choreograph the stage and ice tours.

Klapow has choreographed commercials for companies such as Gap Kids, Old Navy, JCPenney, Carl's Jr., and Disney's Friends for Change. He also choreographed Cheetah Girls 2 and The Cheetah Girls.

Klapow was invited by Ortega to be the choreographer for the 2011 film musical remake of Footloose starring Kenny Wormald and Julianne Hough, but Klapow turned down the offer, despite Michael Jackson's promise to dance with Michael Jackson on his comeback tour in London in 2009.

Ortega was supposed to be the tour guide of the shows, which was ironically. Klapow was one of twelve dancers selected for Michael Jackson's "This Is It" performances at The O2 Arena in London, England, which was scheduled to open on July 13, 2009 to March 6, 2010, and AEG Live was the recipient. However, Michael Jackson died of a heart arrest on June 25, 2009, just eighteen days before the first show. The entire tour was cancelled by AEG Live.

Klapow attended the Michael Jackson memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles days before Michael Jackson's death, Klapow, Michael, and the entire This Is It crew rehearsed in preparations for the London concerts at the O2 Arena on July 7, 2009. Klapow appeared in Jennifer Hudson's "Will You Be There" show, where he and the original eleven "This Is It" dancers were back-up dancers for the performance. According to reports, this was how Michael Jackson was supposed to perform the song at his London concerts. Ortega was the host of the memorial service.

Klapow completed his time as judge on the Australian television show Young Talent Time with Australian singer Tina Arena. So You Think You Can Dance choreographed Ricky and Ryan's Dance on So You Think You Can Dance on July 6, 2011.

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Awards

• 2006 - Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography for "High School Musical" along with Kenny Ortega and Bonnie Story.
• 2007 - Choreography Media Honors Award for "High School Musical" along with Kenny Ortega and Bonnie Story.
• 2007 - Outstanding Contribution to Dance Award from the Tremaine Dance Conventions
• 2008 - Choreography Media Honors Award for "High School Musical 2" along with Kenny Ortega and Bonnie Story.
• 2008 - Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Choreography for "High School Musical 2" along with Kenny Ortega and Bonnie Story.
• 2009 - Astaire Awards nomination for Best Film Choreographer for "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" shared with Kenny Ortega and Bonnie Story.
• 2012 - World Dance Award nomination for Outstanding Choreography Concert/Live Performance with Renee Roca
• 2015 - World Choreography Award for Outstanding Choreography Digital Format along with Paula Abdul, Renee Richie and Nakul Dev Mahajan.
• 2016 - Outstanding Alumni Award from the Tremaine Dance Conventions