Hollywood Choreographers: Fighting for Recognition, Rights & Respect

The energy of dance is undeniable in film and television, animating awards shows and enriching storytelling. Yet, the artists responsible – choreographers – often find themselves without adequate recognition, even as their work becomes increasingly visible. A recent conversation with leading dancemakers reveals a complex landscape of progress and persistent challenges, as the industry slowly begins to acknowledge the vital role choreography plays in visual media.

For years, choreographers were relegated to the “additional crew” section on platforms like IMDB, obscuring their contributions. That began to shift last year with advocacy from the Choreographers Guild, a labor organization founded in 2022, which successfully campaigned for a dedicated “choreographer” credit. This seemingly small change represents a significant step toward visibility, making it easier for audiences and industry professionals to identify and appreciate the work of choreographers.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has also taken steps toward inclusion. In 2023, the Academy created a new branch, Production and Technology, specifically including choreographers. Previously, Vincent Paterson was the sole choreographer member. Now, he’s joined by Mandy Moore, Kenny Ortega, Prem Rakshith, Fatima Robinson, and Yuen Woo-Ping. Even as these changes are encouraging, the question remains: does increased representation translate to meaningful recognition, particularly in the form of an Academy Award for choreography?

The Current Landscape: A Conversation with Industry Leaders

Dance Magazine recently spoke with four prominent choreographers – Mandy Moore, Vincent Paterson, Kathryn Burns, and Christian Vincent – to gauge the current state of the industry. Their insights reveal a nuanced picture of both progress and ongoing struggles.

Mandy Moore, known for her work on La La Land and Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, observes a growing awareness of choreography. “Dance is everywhere right now, which is cool,” she says. “It still feels like we’re over here being like, ‘We’re worthy! Fight for us!’” She acknowledges the incremental improvements, noting the increasing visibility of choreographer credits on social media, a phenomenon largely absent just a few years ago.

Kathryn Burns, founding president of the Choreographers Guild, emphasizes the organization’s focus on “respect, recognition, and having parity with our creative collaborators.” The Guild is actively working towards a collective bargaining agreement, aiming to secure health care, pensions, and overtime pay for choreographers – benefits commonly enjoyed by other creative professionals in the entertainment industry.

Moore credits the Guild with fostering a sense of community and providing a platform for choreographers to collectively address their concerns. “It’s really hard with our business, because we’re all over the place,” she explains. “Without a unified conscience, I don’t realize how we do anything moving forward, so I really credit the Guild for trying to do that.”

The Importance of Credit and Visibility

The recent IMDB credit update is a tangible win for the Choreographers Guild. Burns highlights the historical inconsistencies in how choreographers were credited – often listed under vague titles like “movement designer” or “staged by” – resulting in many contributions being lost in the shuffle. “We gave them a list of how choreographers have been credited throughout history…we ended up finding at least 50 different variations of ‘choreographer,’” she says. “It speaks to why credit is important, because you have to know that the job even exists to hire the person, and then who was the person who did the job?”

Moore echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of attribution. “Any time you can put a name to the making of something, that’s really important.”

Challenges Remain: Work Volume and Recognition

Despite these positive developments, significant challenges persist. Christian Vincent points to a recent dip in work opportunities for choreographers, potentially linked to increased dancer rates negotiated during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Producers, facing higher costs, may be less inclined to incorporate dance into projects.

Burns identifies a lack of consistent recognition as a major issue. She recounts instances of working on Academy-nominated films without receiving credit, and being excluded from industry events, and acknowledgements. “We don’t get invited to the wrap parties. We don’t get the wrap gifts,” she says. “What you’re doing is valuable, and people appreciate it, but it doesn’t feel that way when you’re not included, even on a very simple social level.”

Moore adds that a fundamental misunderstanding of the choreographer’s role often contributes to these issues. “I think it’s still that most productions don’t understand what we do,” she explains. “We have a packet of best practices, which is helpful. But every time I move on a job, I have to explain that I need a place to rehearse…They’re going to have to pay hazard pay because it’s not a sprung floor. Every time, I have to reteach them.”

The Oscar Question and Future Advocacy

With six choreographers now represented within the Academy’s Production and Technology branch, the possibility of a dedicated Oscar for choreography seems closer than ever. However, Vincent Paterson remains skeptical. “There’s so much politics over there that it’s not going to happen until we have a solid group of choreographers involved in the Production and Technology branch. There’s only six of us right now. That’s still a very, very small number.”

Moore proposes an alternative approach: an honorary Oscar awarded on a case-by-case basis to films with exceptional choreography. “I don’t actually think we need our own Oscar,” she suggests. “I think we need a committee in place so that if there is a film or films in a year that have choreography that is deemed Oscar-worthy, we have the ability to give them an honorary Oscar.”

Burns emphasizes the importance of increasing choreographer representation within the Academy’s governing bodies. “We’re trying to learn how the system works, and how to speak their language, and who in the organization can empower us.”

Looking ahead, Paterson and Burns are actively pursuing discussions with the Golden Globes to explore the possibility of adding a choreography award to their ceremony. This strategic move aims to bolster the case for choreography recognition within the Academy.

The fight for recognition continues, fueled by the collective efforts of the Choreographers Guild and the dedication of industry leaders. As Moore aptly puts it, “I’m looking forward to continuing to push things forward and educate. I try not to be pitchforks and torches all the time. There’s a time for that, and there’s also a time for a peaceful chat about things. I think it’s easy to get all ‘No one cares about us.’ And I don’t really believe that. I think people are all just white-knuckling in their own way.”

Next Steps: The Choreographers Guild will continue its advocacy efforts, focusing on securing a collective bargaining agreement and increasing representation within key industry organizations. The outcome of discussions with the Golden Globes could significantly impact the momentum for choreography recognition in the coming years.