Dance doesn't always come easy.

Most of the choreography in the shows is taken directly off either the music videos or from the live performances; it all depends on what the feel of the show asks for.

At the SST Studios exploring monster behavior (LOL)

I take dances directly off the television set. I play, rewind, sssllloowwww it down etc. in order to copy the choreography and replicate it as accurate as I can possibly get it. This applies for the backup dancer’s parts in the videos, MJ’s endless sets of moves/combos  and let’s not forget about his facial expressions as well.

Whenever there is a song that MJ never performed live or had a music video to I create my own version (or Alan creates one for us in this year’s case – the Asst. Choreographer). We do either our own complete version or a mix of both- MJ choreography and our own to keep it in the same realm of the show.

Dance doesn’t come easy to me. I’m dead serious. I don’t “crump”, no idea how to do “tutting” or any of those styles and truly; I look ridiculous when I try. I surprise people when I say that because people have this notion that because I can dance my ass off for two hours onstage I must breathe, live and eat dance.  I am humble enough to say that I am not the best dancer in the LEGACY show; I’m not. We have amazing talent involved in this show and dance comes so easy to some of these other cats (I suppose that is why they got the gig, right?). Most of the dancers can learn a fairly difficult piece in one session. I on the other hand, have to let it “simmer” in my brain and repeat it many times (usually at home) before I can say “I GOT THIS” and then find room to make it my own, as I have to stay in character on top of it. I've been told by other dancers is that it doesn't help that I don't count when I dance. You know... 5,6,7 & 8.  I prefer learning the choreography and fitting it to the music. That way, the dance is built in the music and not in my head. 

Creating dance also does not come easy either. I have to be feeling very inspired to come up with something that I am proud of. Thus far, my proudest dance that I’ve done is last year’s “Scream” (minus the MJ and Janet classic part, of course- that was off the video). Everything else was cooked in my “creative room” and some flare was added in the studio when we all tried different things to see what looked better with 11 people doing it. You will not be seeing “Scream”  in the 2011 show and that’s because we have other crazy numbers waiting for you.

Performing "Scream" in 2010's LEGACY Shows! 

It’s easy to assume that all this comes easy to me but that’s a misconception by my own admission. Maybe it’s beyond the dancing that captivates people. My mother said to me a long time ago after a show: “You’re a very good actor! You transform yourself and I ask myself- where is Luis?” and I said :“Mom, I don’t act! I dance!”… Then, she went on to tell me that what I do onstage is not only dancing. It’s also acting and really becoming someone else; she was referring to the “MJ Swagger”: the facial expressions, the hands and everything else other than the feet moving. She really got me thinking …

Dancing like Michael Jackson comes easy. I don't know where it comes from; it just does (well, I do practice, don't get me wrong) but it comes from somewhere deeper than my reheased dance-chest. When I hit the stage I forget about Luis, think about nothing and dance my heart out for the audience. They feed be energy and I give them my soul; through my performance.

Random LEGACY Choreography Facts:

-Thriller is the easiest dance to learn and the most popular at every show! Really…? Really!

-Dangerous was the most difficult dance to learn taking us over 13 hours to learn it!!

-This year, there is a “twist” to the Thriller dance.

-Alan Mure choreographed “Remember The Time” for the 2010 shows.

-Alan Mure choreographed “You Rock My World” this year

-I just gave you a sneak peak at the lineup…. Oops. I hope Gloria doesn’t read this.

-The 2011 show has 7-8 new numbers! The others have been tweaked so you don’t get the same show. 

BY THE WAY!!!

LEGACY was featured in this video. This is a promo for the JUST DANCE 2 Video Game. 
Check it out! This was filmed at a show we had on March 5th, 2011.