Pandora Marie

Pandora Marie

Pandora Marie in Los Angeles
Born Marie Medina
(1981-07-25) July 25, 1981
Santa Ana, California, U.S.[1]
Occupation Dancer, Choreographer, Actress, Artistic Director
Years active 2002–present
Awards Most Outstanding Female Popper
Radiotron 2003
Radiotron 2004
B. Supreme London
Freestyle Style Session
How The West Was Won
Take It Personal
Floor Wars
Website Little Box Of Hope
Pandora Marie

Marie "Pandora" Medina aka Pandora or Pandora Marie (born Marie Faye Medina, July 25, 1981) is an American dancer, choreographer, and actress who specializes in the "Tutting" and "Popping" dance styles. She is a member of the Style Elements Crew, The LXD and Venus Fly. Pandora’s career has spanned over fifteen years, primarily as part of the popping dance funk culture.[2]

Dance career

Marie "Pandora" Medina in her first "Style Elements Crew" photo shoot.

Pandora Marie has worked with musicians such as Common and Pharell, Justin Bieber, Trey Songs, Flo-Rida, Sean Kingston, David Guetta, Steve Aoki, Skrillex, LMFAO and Gina Rodriguez. Pandora is best known for the Step Up 3D "Tutting" Scene, a standing Ovation on So You Think You Can Dance, The Microsoft Surface Commercial, for her lead role as Autum in Jon M Chu's The LXD (The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers) and her supporting role Karla in the Youssef Delara and Michael D. Olmos movie "Filly Brown". The Danish magazine Gaffa described Pandora as "one of the best Electric Boogie dancers in the world" after her performance in the danish show "Menneske Robotten" ("The Human Robot").[3][4] The reviewer went on to state that Pandora Marie, and her fellow dancer Koichiro Mori made the dance look extremely easy despite being technically difficult.[3]

In more recent years Pandora Marie has expanded her work into the theater and other creative directions. She has performed in theatrical pieces for Little Box Of Hope and DS2DIO as well as worked with Cirque du Soleil and Cirque Éloize. Pandora has also held the principle role of "Clara" in "The Nutcracker" in Tivoli, Copenhagen, Denmark and performed many principle roles in award-winning theatrical productions throughout the US, Scandinavia, and Europe.

Personal life

Pandora Marie in San Diego, CA filming with "Stance" to her poem "Time"

Pandora is the Co-founder and Artistic Director of Little Box Of Hope (a production company / creative collective) alongside her fiancé.[5] She also has worked with G Koop and Darrick Quali-D Fields and has songs, poetry and music under "Pandora Marie" written by her and sold on iTunes, Spotify and other music platforms. Pandora is both Native American and Mexican American. Her native tribes are Chickasaw and Choctaw and she is a Citizen of the Chickasaw Nation. In 2011 Pandora Marie participated in the "Rise Up and Dance" project, teaching kids to dance as a way give them a purpose in life. At the time she commented "Dancing is what saved me from going down the wrong path. I want to help and inspire kids just like I was inspired by the dancers in my neighborhood".[1]

Working with Jon M Chu

In 2009 Pandora was contacted on YouTube and personally cast by "Now You See Me 2" director Jon M. Chu in the role of "Autumn" in the popular online dance series THE LXD: Legion of Extraordinary Dancers.[6] This relationship led to many other collaborations such as Disney’s "Step Up" film series,[7] NASA's Earth Chorus, The Conan O'Brien Show, BMW Mini Cooper, Google Zietgeist Conference and more. Her dancing in Step Up 3D was described by one reviewer by stating that Pandora Marie "will have you so hypnotized with her finger tuts"... "it’ll be nothing short of bewitching".[8]

Awards and honors

Pandora was presented with an award for "Most Outstanding Female Popper" and has held titles in dance competitions all around the world ("battles") Radiotron, UK B. Supreme,[9] Freestyle Style Session, How The West Was Won, Take It Personal, Floor Wars, and more. She is considered to be an influential figure in street-dance culture.[10][11]

Filmography

Pandora Marie back stage for Justin Bieber's "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" (Arthur Christmas)

Television/Film roles

Feature Film
Dance Web Series
Television
Short Films

Music Videos

Pandora Marie getting ready for Justin Bieber's "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" music video

Theatrical/Concert Stage Performances

Pandora Marie in her Queen Tut Piece.
Theater performances
Concerts

Commercials

References

  1. 1 2 "Artist Dance their Way into Dayton for Cityfolk's "Rise Up to Dance" Performance at Stivers". PR Log. March 11, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  2. ↑ The Oxford Handbook of Screendance Studies. Oxford University Press. 2016. p. 703. ISBN 9780199981601. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Seefeldt Stæhr, Maria Therese (January 14, 2010). "Steen Koerner (instruktør) med flere: Menneskerobot, Dansehallerne, København" (in Danish). Gaffa Magazine. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  4. ↑ Monrad Boel, Nina. "Theatre: Robot boogie at Carlsberg". University DK. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Q&A with the Dancers of Cirque Éloize iD". Kansas City Starlight Theater. September 9, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  6. 1 2 "The Green Room: Interview with The LXD's Christopher Scott". Hulu. August 11, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  7. ↑ Alonzo, Adam (March 12, 2012). "Rise Up & Dance! Guest artists and film screening". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  8. ↑ Chen, Rochelle (August 11, 2010). ""Step Up 3D" is Unexpected Fun". Annenberg Media Center. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  9. ↑ "b. supreme Festival". b supreme. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Drømmen om menneskerobotten" (in Danish). Information. January 21, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Eat Fresh Breakdance Jam: Extra Credit Crew, Pandora". Live Van. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  12. 1 2 Anders, Charlie Jane (July 14, 2010). "The dance adventure is just beginning: LXD's Jon M. Chu talks to io9!". io9!. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  13. 1 2 "Sit down with Pandora from "Step Up 3D"". YouTube. November 24, 2010. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  14. 1 2 "VEVO - Step Up 3D: Behind the Moves, Pt. 2". YouTube. July 10, 2010. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  15. ↑ "S2DIO CITY: THE BELL ft. Marie "Pandora"". YouTube. July 18, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Justin Bieber - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town video". YouTube. December 6, 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  17. ↑ "The Mast – UpUpUp Music Video (w/ Band Interview)". Redefine Magazine. July 17, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  18. ↑ "The Mast - UpUpUp (Official Video ft. Pandora Marie)". YouTube. May 29, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Common - Universal Mind". YouTube. September 29, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  20. 1 2 3 Aagaard, Peter T. "Menneskerobot". DUBCNN Magazine (Spring 2010): 47. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  21. ↑ Woodruff, Steven (October 3, 2012). "Antics performance debuts New Work at LATC". Dance Plug. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Roskilde Festival 2010 Programme". ISSUU. p. 36. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Otra Vez Gose-Style Ale". Sierra Nevada Official Channel. YouTube. May 24, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.

External links

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