Frank Gatson Jr.

Frank Gatson Jr.
Born	Frank Gatson Jr. October 4 Louisiana (born) Milwaukee, Wisconsin (origin)
Education	North Division High School and University Of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Occupation	Creative director, director, choreographer, Manager of Island Artist Luke James, Starring with Kelly Rowland on BET new docu-series called Chasing Destiny
Years active	1980s—present
Former groups	Alvin Ailey Dance and Broadway Dance Centre

Frank Gatson Jr. is an American choreographer and director. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1980 and began dancing for Up With People, an organization that travelled the world performing at all different kinds of venues even appearing at several Super Bowl halftime performances. Eventually, he worked his way up to official ‘dance captain’ and began to manage the show itself. He later moved to New York to study at the ‘Broadway Dance Center’ and ‘Alvin Ailey Dance Center’. After finishing his time at Ailey and Broadway Centers he returned to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and received a Masters in Theatre and Dance. He got his first professional break when he danced in Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” video in 1986. He is the creative director for Beyoncé, a position he has held since her tenure with Destiny's Child.^[1] He has also choreographed videos, routines and live performances for other artists including R. Kelly, Michael Jackson, TLC, En Vogue, Kelly Rowland, Jennifer Lopez, Fifth Harmony, Destiny's Child, Toni Braxton and Usher.^[2][3] Additionally, he served as Choreographer for Disney's animated film Hercules, providing choreography for The Muses. His dance routines have earned him the most MTV Video Music Awards for Best Choreography in its history (six).

Work with En Vogue

Music videos

1992	“Giving Him Something He Can Feel” (as choreographer)	[4]
1992	"Free Your Mind" (as choreographer)	[4]
1993	“Runaway Love” (as choreographer)	[4]
2008	"Whatta Man” (as choreographer)	[4]
1997	“Don’t Let Go Love” (as creative director)	[4]
1997	"“Whatever" (as choreographer	[4]
1997	"Too Gone, Too Long” (as creative director)	[4]
2000	"Riddle" (as creative director)	[4]

Work with R. Kelly

Music videos

2008	Skin (as choreographer)	[5]
2012	Feelin' Single (as choreographer)	[6]

Tours and live performances

• Down Low Top Secret Tour (1996) (as director and choreographer)
• 39th Annual Grammy Awards (1998) (as choreographer)
• Get Up On a Room Tour (1999) (as director and choreographer)
• TP-2.COM Tour (2001) (as choreographer)
• 2005 MTV VMA's (2005) (as choreographer)
• 2015 Soul Train Awards (2015) (as choreographer)
• The Buffet Tour (2016) (as director and choreographer)

Work with Beyoncé

Music videos

2003	Crazy in Love (as choreographer)	[7]
2003	Baby Boy (as choreographer)	[4]
2003	Me, Myself and I (as choreographer)	[4]
2005	Check on It (as choreographer)	[4]
2006	Ring the Alarm (as choreographer)	[4]
2006	Green Light (as choreographer)	[4]
2006	Irreplaceable (as choreographer)	[4]
2006	Upgrade U (as choreographer)	[4]
2007	Suga Mama (as choreographer)	[4]
2007	Freakum Dress (as choreographer)	[4]
2009	Ego (as director, creative director and choreographer)	[8]
2009	Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) (as creative director and choreographer)	[9]
2009	If I Were A Boy (as a choreographer)	[4]
2009	Diva (as a choreographer)	[4]
2011	Move Your Body (as choreographer)	[10]
2011	Run The World (Girls) (as choreographer)	[11]
2011	Countdown (as choreographer)	[12]

Tours and live performances

• The Beyoncé Experience (2007) (as show director, creative director and choreographer)^[13]
• I Am... World Tour (2009) (as director, creative director and choreographer)
• The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour (2013) (as director, creative director and choreographer)^[14]

Commercials

• True Star (2004)
• Samsung (2007)
• Armani Diamonds (2007)
• American Express (2007)
• L'Oreal (2007)
• L'Oreal (2003) (with Jennifer Lopez)

Source:^[4]

Work with Usher

Music videos

1997	You Make Me Wanna... (as choreographer)	[4]
1997	My Way (as choreographer)	[4]
2001	You Remind Me (as choreographer)	[4]
2008	Love in This Club (as choreographer and creative director)	[4]
2008	Moving Mountains (as creative director)	[4]

Tours and live performances

• Share My World Tour (1997) (as choreographer)
• No Way Out Tour (1997) (as choreographer)
• 8701 Promo Tour (2001) (as choreographer)
• One Night, One Star: Usher Live Showtime Special w/ Beyoncé (2005) (as choreographer)

References

1. "Leave It On The Floor - Production Team". ballmusical.com. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
2. Gatson Jr., Frank (June 26, 2009). "Remembering Michael: Frank Gaston Jr.". Time. Time Inc. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
3. La Rocco, Claudia (September 5, 2007). "For Pop Stars, Big Reputations Can Rest on the Smallest of Movements". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
4. "Frank Gatson - Resume" (PDF). chokolate.tv. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
5. "FRANK GATSON JR.". chocolate.tv. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
6. "FRANK GATSON JR.". chocolate.tv. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
7. "FRANK GATSON JR.". chocolate.tv. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
8. Andre (July 5, 2009). "Beyonce Knowles Shows Off Her Big 'Ego'". On The Fix (Entertainment News & Stuff). Retrieved June 17, 2013.
9. Cairns, Dan (May 10, 2009). "YouTube plays part in Beyoncé Knowles' life". The Times. News Corporation. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
10. Nicole James (April 27, 2011). "Beyonce Is The Hottest Aerobics Instructor EVER In 'Move Your Body' Video". MTV Networks. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
11. Vena, Jocelyn (May 19, 2011). "Beyoncé 'Nailed It' in 'Girls' Video, Choreographer Says". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
12. "Best Choreography (MTV VMAs)". MTV Networks. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
13. Knowles, Beyoncé (2007). Official The Beyoncé Experience World Tour Program. USA: Columbia Records.
14. Knowles, Beyoncé (2013). Official The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour Program. USA.

• FRANK GATSON Jr. - Bio, Chokolate
• Choreographer returns home to celebrate Jackson, North Division, Journal Sentinel, 26 February 2010

External links