| (March 5, 2009—Denver, CO) Taking some time | | | | can do, and a choreography reel is the best way to |
| from his busy schedule of working with professional | | | | show them. |
| musicians and dancers, choreographer Tony Testa | | | | In addition to taking dance classes, Tony emphasizes |
| sat down to talk with about his career, which started | | | | the importance of networking and knowing the right |
| at the young age of 14. Since then he has performed | | | | people, but says it has to be for the right motives. |
| with the likes of Aaron Carter, Janet Jackson, and | | | | "If you're obviously trying to network just for money |
| Britney Spears. | | | | purposes, people can see through that," he says, but |
| As part of JigTV's professional dancer interviews, | | | | adds that he has found that as long as you do what |
| Tony talked about how first gig was with Tap Kids, | | | | you love, are true to yourself, and do what you do |
| an off-Broadway production directed by Lisa Hopkins, | | | | best, people will seek you out. |
| during which he made some good friends and had his | | | | As proof of the success of these efforts, when |
| first experience touring. Tap Kids toured on the | | | | Tony was 18 he got a call from Janet Jackson's |
| weekends, he said, leaving time during the week for | | | | director, who had seen his choreography reel and |
| school, baseball, and wrestling. | | | | wanted him to audition for Janet's show. He got the |
| At the age of 16, Tony Testa was taking a dance | | | | position of junior choreographer to work under the |
| class with Brian Friedman, another choreographer | | | | director and another professional choreographer. "I |
| featured on JigTV, when Brian asked him to perform | | | | was beyond intimidated!" Tony said. He had never |
| in a show he was choreographing for Aaron Carter. | | | | worked with other choreographers before, so that |
| Shortly after that, he put together a choreography | | | | job helped him learn a lot. |
| reel before moving to Los Angeles. Tony highly | | | | Recently, Tony performed with Britney during MTV's |
| recommends putting together a choreography reel so | | | | Video Music Awards. He and the others dancers |
| that people can show studios what they can do, | | | | rehearsed for three weeks, and he was very |
| even if choreography isn't their strongest point. | | | | satisfied with the performance. |
| People looking for dancers need to know what they | | | | |