Mia Michaels

Mia Michaels is an Emmy Award-winning American choreographer. She has worked with Celine Dion, Madonna, Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan, and Prince, among others, and is best-known for contemporary dance choreography. Michaels is a regular guest judge and choreographer on the television program So You Think You Can Dance, and in 2007 won an Emmy for her work on the show. She has choreographed Celine Dion's Las Vegas show "A New Day...,"^[1] as well as a Cirque du Soleil's world tour, "Delirium," along with several television commercials.

Early life

Michaels was born in Coconut Grove, Florida in 1965, to a family of dancers.^[2] Her father Joe Michaels taught her jazz, tap and ballet from the age of two. Her sister Dana Michaels taught Mia for several years in contemporary dance ^{[3] [4]}. For years she attended summer sessions at Interlochen Arts and Jacob's Pillow. ^[2][3]

Career

Mia’s choreography for "Celine Dion’s A New Day" under the direction of Franco Dragone at Caesars’ Palace in Las Vegas has received stunning reviews. The show features a cast of 50 dancers. Currently her work can be seen on Cirque du Soleil’s first touring show, Delirium, which premiered March 2006. She has also created works for numerous recording artists including Madonna, Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan, Anna Vissi, and Prince.

On television, Mia is the ever-popular judge and contributing choreographer for Fox’s hit TV show (and touring company) “So You Think You Can Dance.” Mia won an Emmy award for choreography on a television series for her work “Calling You” on SYTYCD. Other work in film and television includes “Cool Women” for AMC/DreamWorks Television and award winning commercials for Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Bacardi, Coldwell Banker, and Ziper.

Included in her diverse concert and stage work is the critically acclaimed New York based dance company, RAW for which she is the founder, artistic director and choreographer. She has created works for the Paper Mill Playhouse’s production of “Hello Dolly!” starring Tovah Feldshuh, Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal, Jazz Dance Chicago, and Oslo Dance Ensemble. Her choreography has been seen off-Broadway with “If These Shoes Could Talk,” and “Fort Chaffee.”

Michaels' career began when she worked with her father Joe at the Miami Dance Center^[2][5] She is also the founder, artistic director and choreographer for the New York-based dance company RAW (Reality At Work), which began in 1997.^[6][2]

Michaels has been on the faculty of schools including the Harid Conservatory, the Ailey School of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Broadway Dance Center, in New York City ^[7], and her alma mater, the New World School of the Arts. Her choreography has been enlisted for the Miami City Ballet, Joffrey II, the Kirov Academy and the Jazz Theater of Amsterdam.^[2]

Awards

• Silver Leo Award, Jazz Dance World Congress, 1992^[2]
• Gold Leo Award, 1998, Best Choreography
• Dance Educators of America's President Cup^[2]
• 2007: 59th Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Choreography:So You Think You Can Dance (Season 2): Calling You^[8]
• Nominations
  • 2002: American Choreography Awards: Outstanding Achievement in Commercials: Coldwell Banker “Buying” ^[3]
  • 2003: American Choreography Awards: Outstanding Achievement in Television - Variety Series: Celine in Las Vegas: Opening Night Live! ^[9]
  • 2003: 55th Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Choreography: Celine in Las Vegas: Opening Night Live! ^[10]