(Los Angeles, California – July 26, 2011) Jeffrey Page’s talents as a dancer and choreographer have taken him everywhere from Hollywood awards shows to West African villages, and have produced collaborations with the biggest names in modern dance as well as superstars of pop music. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for NAACP Image Award choreography in 2005, is credited with giving Beyonce’ Knowles her African flair, more recently served as a resident choreographer on Fox’s reality TV sensation ‘So You Think You Can Dance.’ In the Fall of 2009, Jeffrey expanded his reach even further when he made his Broadway debut in the cast of the musical FELA!. The lauded production recently racked up 11 Nominations and 3 Wins at the Tony Awards 2010.

It’s fitting that Jeffrey would arrive on Broadway as a member of the FELA! ensemble to wow audiences in a show about a Nigerian musical pioneer (Fela Anikulapo-Kuti), since West African dance has been his specialty since childhood. Page says, “I think Fela! has been a hit because it’s playing with a wide variety of textures that Broadway hasn’t seen.” The media seems to agree; The Associated Press raved in its FELA! review: “An extremely talented ensemble of attractive, limber, athletic dancers are in nonstop motion throughout the play.” The New York Times wrote: “‘Fela!’ never stops dancing, and Mr. Jones uses his ravishing ensemble to evoke everything from joyous sensuality to the kind of governmental oppression that turns people into zombies.”

Like his FELA! director, Bill T. Jones, Jeffrey Page has spread his talents across concert dance and musical theater, and has taken on directing as well as choreographic responsibilities. He has served as an African dance instructor/consultant for Cirque du Soleil’s breathtaking Show “O”, Alvin Ailey’s American Dance Theatre and most recently in July 2009 Page was one of the resident choreographers of reality sensation So You Think You Can Dance—responsible for the West African piece “Balanta” performed by Season 5’s top five men which was praised by various online entertainment sites as “intricate,” “energetic” and “incredibly entertaining.”
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Choreographers across the world fantasize about the once in a lifetime chance to work with Beyoncé Knowles, an extraordinary talentwho is known to keep a tight knit circle of dancers and creative people. Jeffrey however casually throws it on his resume as if it is a second thought but humbly says The multi-faceted choreographer was sought out to work w/ the multi-Grammy Award Winning entertainer on her 2007 world tour “The Beyoncé Experience” in support of her sophomore album B’Day. The two had previously met while dancing alongside each other at promotional appearances for her debut solo album, Dangerously in Love. In 2006 Jeffrey helped choreograph Beyoncé’s live performances of “Déjà Vu featuring husband Jay-Z while also choreographing the diva’s performances at The World Music Awards and VH-1 Fashion Rocks Tribute to dance icon Josephine Baker. That same year Jeffrey assisted Beyonce’s resident artistic director Frank Gaston during the MTV Video Music Awards for the song “Ring the Alarm”. In 2011 Jeffrey constructed the entire finale of Beyonce’s internationally inspired epic music video “Girls Run the World.”

Choreographer Fatima Robinson is just one of Jeffrey’s colleagues who have noted his enduring quest for knowledge and hands-on experience, frequently seeking out his expertise. Robinson recruited Jeffrey to co-choreograph the Coming to America-esque opening of the 2005 BET Awards for Will and Jada Pinkett Smith and the finale of the 2005 Billboard Music Awards, in which R. Kelly and a gospel chorus sang “Let Your Light Shine,” a tribute to Hurricane Katrina victims. The well known and versatile Taluego Brothers enlisted Jeffrey to co-choreograph for the 2005 NAACP Image Awards featuring the cast of David LaChappelle’s acclaimed dance documentary “Rize” and his choreography has also been featured on tour by Arista recording artist Jazmine Sullivan.
Unlike much of the formulaic African dance that has been incorporated into music videos, films and entertainment over the years Jeffrey brings a traditional authenticity to this intricate and ancient artform. In fact his first statement in rehearsal to the performers of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ was “This is not going to be Hollywood African.” Those few words pay homage to the African continent whose lexicon, style and rhythms have often been substituted for stereotypes and gimmicks. In fact very few Hollywood dance choreographers can boast that they’ve performed with and received praised from the national dance companies of West Africa (Ballet Djoliba, Ballet Africains, Le Ballet National du Senegal) which may be what seperates Jeffrey from his peers.

Jeffrey has graced the stage at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., starred in Debbie Allen’s Louisiana bayou-set dance musical Soul Possessed, choreographed with Otis Sallid for the Middle Eastern International Film Festival in Abu Dhabi and paid homage to black intellectuals like Langston Hughes and Zora Neal Hurston in play adaptations of their written works. For the gifted virtuoso who earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with honors from the University of the Arts and jokes about being “tricked” into taking an African dance class by a teacher who advertised it as “hip-hop” Jeffrey is lighting up stage, tv and film with his colorful and creative choreography. Whether he’s combining Korean folklore and Brazilian Samba or conducting anthropological research into traditional dance and music of Senegal, Guinea, the Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, nobody in the industry can deny Jeffrey’s deft ability to create stunning visual collages of work which are transcending cultural barriers.

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And introducing from Mozambique
the Tofo Tofo Dancers

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Frank Gatson

The much-sought after Frank Gatson has served as Beyonce’s resident choreographer for over a decade. He boasts five MTV Awards for “Best Choreography” and has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show. His work with the R&B female icon can be seen in “Single Ladies,” “Diva,” “Crazy in Love” and many more as well as choreographing her world tours, live performances and award shows. He is the driving force behind the moves of the woman the world has come to know as Sasha Fierce. Additionally he has choreographed pieces for a range of other artists including Michael Jackson, Rihanna, Usher, Fantasia, Mary J. Blige, Brandy, Toni Braxton, En Vogue, Ciara, Destiny’s Child and Trey Songz to name a few. Starting off as a background dancer in the video for Michael Jackson’s iconic “Smooth Criminal” he went on to work with Paula Abdul, Debbie Allen, Matthew Rolston and other until he received his “big break” choreographing for legendary R&B girl group En Vogue.

Luam

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Luam has choreographed for TV, commercial campaigns (MTV’s Hip-Hop Week, Mastercard, As The World Turns, etc.) and various recording artists. She has danced alongside Ludacris, Kelis, Kanye West, Kevin Lyttle and Ashanti while working with Ciara, Nelly Furtado, Fergie, Busta Rhymes, Rihanna, T-pain, on stages and screens all over the world and in the US. Luam has aalso been responsible for choreographing sold out arena world tours. She is a current faculty member at Broadway Dance Center in New York, and serves on faculty for Monsters of Hip-Hop.

Jeffrey Page

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Emmy Award Nominated Choreographer/Dancer Jeffrey Page’s talents have taken him everywhere from Hollywood awards shows to West African villages, while producing collaborations with the biggest names in modern dance as well as superstars of pop music. He is known for helping give Beyonce Knowles her Afrocentric dance flair, choreographing her 2007 word tour “The Beyoncé Experience” as well as live performances for The World Music Awards, The MTV Video Music Awards and VH-1 Fashion Rocks Tribute to dance icon Josephine Baker. He has choreographed for Cirque du Soleil, Alvin Ailey, Fatima Robinson, Debbie Allen, Bill T. Jones, NAACP Image Awards, BET Awards, Billboard Awards and FOX’s reality sensation ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ where he put together the only West African dance routine in their history, which left judge Nigel Lythgoe saying “This routine was one of the toughest we’ve ever had on this show.” Page starred as a cast member in the Tony Award winning Broadway hit musical FELA! and has been featured in everything from Vogue to Dance Magazine.

Sheryl Murkami

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Sheryl Murakami has trained extensively in classical ballet while also studying tap, jazz and later branching out into hip hop and salsa. You may have seen her featured in numerous television shows, national commercials, and music videos. Her television credits include MTV, VMA’s, VHI Fashon Rocks, Latin Grammy’s, NBA All Stars, As the World Turns and Saturday Night Live, as well as commercials and industrials for Nexxus, Oxygen Network, Viacom, Footlocker, and Chivas Regal. She has worked with various artists such as Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Avril Lavigne, Nelley, Pharell, Nelly Furtado, Diddy, Wisin Y Yandel, Thalia and Placido Domingo to name a few. One of New York’s most respected choreographers, Miss Murakami has choreographed for Beyonce’s “I Am Sasha Fierce” tour including her video for “EGO”. Additional credits include national commercials for Maybelline, industrials for Maxim, Puma, Heineken, Apollo Theater, NYSC, Jingle Ball, X Box, Lollapalooza, guest choreographer for the NJ Nets and NYC Knicks Dancers. Sheryl has created her own unique style of dance. Her strong athletic technique fuses jazz-funk, rock, and pop. Sheryl’s signature style captures the strength of feminine sexuality. Her expertise in all forms of dance have enabled her to guest teach and choreograph nationally and internationally. She is currently teaching at Broadway Dance Center in New York City.