Galen Hooks says it’s so easy, you won’t even realize you’re exercising.
Celebrity choreographer Galen Hooks poses in a white jumpsuit. Courtesy of Instagram/@galenhooks
Justin Bieber, Janet Jackson and Rihanna are just a few of the big names choreographer Galen Hooks has worked with during her extensive career as a professional dancer. With over 20 years of experience, she has done it all. From perfecting the routines for countless chart-topping music videos to being the mastermind behind Janet Jackson and Missy Elliott’s historic Michael Jackson VMAs tribute, Hooks takes any project to the next level with her moves.
Now she’s giving back to aspiring dancers as a judge through the Red Bull Bracket Reel competition. The dance-off started out with 16 crews from colleges all over the country and today, the finals have come down to only two teams from Cornell University and North Carolina State. Hooks along with judges including fellow dance experts Kash Gaines, Valerie Ramirez and Ronnie Albaldonado will determine the winner who will get the chance to dance in a major-production music video with a Red Bull artist this winter. Before one of the groups gets crowned the champion, Forbes sat down with Hooks for an exclusive interview reflecting on her favorite celebrity moment, what she’s looking for as she decides the winning squad and more. You can also tune in here to watch it all go down tonight starting at 8 PM/EST.
Isis Briones: Have you always wanted to be a dancer and how did you get your start?
Galen Hooks: ” I have been dancing since I was three years old. My older sister Taylor was in dance classes and my mom put me in the same dance studio. When I was seven, my sister and I were on the original Star Search in a group of five girls. We won the entire show as Junior Dance Champions and from there I got an agent and began working in Los Angeles. I’ve picked up other hobbies along the way, too. I was a competitive gymnast, swimmer and even studied law in college, but dance is the thing that has never left my life. I’ve made the choice everyday to be a dancer and feel very grateful to have the freedom to make that choice.”
IB: Wow! What would you say inspired your choreography?
GH: “My number one inspiration for any choreography is the music it’s created to.
