Frank Gatson Jr.

Frank Gatson Jr.
BornOctober 4
Louisiana (born)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin (origin)
EducationUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison (BA)
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (MA)
Occupation(s)Creative director, director, choreographer, manager
Years active1980s–present
Career
Former groupsAlvin Ailey Dance, Broadway Dance Centre, Up With People Inc. and Alpha Phi Alpha Inc.

Frank Gatson Jr. is an American director and choreographer. He is the creative director for En Vogue, Brandy, Muni Long, Tyrese Gibson, Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez. He also is Kelly Rowland's and Beyoncé's main creative director and choreographer, 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, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Fifth Harmony, Destiny's Child, Little Mix, Toni Braxton and Usher.[2][3][4]

Early career

Gatson graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1980 and began dancing for Up With People, an organization that travelled the globe performing at all various 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 master's degree in Theatre and Dance. He got his first professional break when he danced in Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" video in 1988.

In 2016, he hosted BET's Chasing Destiny alongside Kelly Rowland. The pair formed an R&B girl group called June's Diary which he now manages. Frank Gatson Jr. was the manager for Luke James and Tyrese Gibson.

Additionally, he served as choreographer for Disney's animated film Hercules, providing choreography for The Muses.

Work with En Vogue

Music videos

1992 "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" (as choreographer) [5]
1992 "Free Your Mind" (as choreographer) [5]
1993 "Runaway Love" (as choreographer) [5]
1994 "Whatta Man" (as choreographer) [5]
1996 "Don't Let Go (Love)" (as creative director) [5]
1997 "Whatever" (as choreographer) [5]
1997 "Too Gone, Too Long" (as creative director) [5]
2000 "Riddle" (as creative director) [5]

Work with R. Kelly

Music videos

2008 Skin (as choreographer) [6]
2012 Feelin' Single (as choreographer and dancer) [7]

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)
  • Usher Raymond w/ Puffy "No Way Out Tour" (1998) (as director and choreographer)
  • TP-2.COM Tour (2001) (as choreographer)
  • 2005 MTV VMA's (2005) (as choreographer)
  • 2013 Beyonce's Super Bowl XLVII Halftime show (as creative director and 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) [6]
2003 Baby Boy (as choreographer) [5]
2003 Me, Myself and I (as choreographer) [5]
2005 Check on It (as choreographer) [5]
2006 Ring the Alarm (as choreographer) [5]
2006 Green Light (as choreographer) [5]
2006 Irreplaceable (as choreographer) [5]
2006 Upgrade U (as choreographer) [5]
2007 Suga Mama (as choreographer) [5]
2007 Freakum Dress (as choreographer) [5]
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) [5]
2009 Diva (as a choreographer) [5]
2011 Move Your Body (as choreographer) [10]
2011 Run The World (Girls) (as choreographer) [11]
2011 Countdown (as choreographer) [12]

Tours and live performances

Commercials

Source:[5]

Work with Usher

Music videos

1997 You Make Me Wanna... (as choreographer) [5]
1997 My Way (as choreographer) [5]
2001 You Remind Me (as choreographer) [5]
2008 Love in This Club (as choreographer and creative director) [5]
2008 Moving Mountains (as creative director) [5]

Tours and live performances

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. Archived from the original on February 12, 2010. 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. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  4. ^ Duff, Seamus (June 6, 2020). "Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock breaks down in emotional video about racism". mirror. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Frank Gatson – Resume" (PDF). chokolate.tv. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 18, 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  6. ^ a b "FRANK GATSON JR". chocolate.tv. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  7. ^ "FRANK GATSON JR". chocolate.tv. May 18, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  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. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  10. ^ James, Nicole (April 27, 2011). "Beyonce Is The Hottest Aerobics Instructor EVER In 'Move Your Body' Video". MTV Networks. Archived from the original on May 2, 2011. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  11. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (May 19, 2011). "Beyoncé 'Nailed It' in 'Girls' Video, Choreographer Says". MTV News. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on January 3, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  12. ^ "Best Choreography (MTV VMAs)". MTV Networks. Archived from the original on August 2, 2012. 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.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)