Australian choreographer William Forsythe, (not to be confused with the American-born choreographer William Forsythe, director of the Forsythe Company in Germany), who has set up his own production company, Grayboy Entertainment, producing on-board cruise ship entertainment and choreography for major events, has choreographed routines for Kylie Minogue, Meatloaf and Chaka Khan. However, he attributtes a great deal of his jazz/commercial dance style to the influence of Ballroom dancing.
Angela Gilltrap went to meet him
I met up with choreographer, William Forsythe at ED5 rehearsal studios in Sydney, Australia. Peering through the window I witnessed him in full flight, immersed in an animated routine to Walking on Sunshine. Listening closer, the vocals on the track sounded like the singer had just inhaled a helium balloon before the performance. I later found out that he was rehearsing suit performers for the Flintstones show, soon to open in Dubai.
Six weeks earlier, William Forsythe was rehearsing a very different kind of show. There were no suits in this one, just eight dancers, a world class backing band and one of Britain’s most beloved pop stars, Sir Cliff Richard. Having recently choreographed his world tour, Forsythe was invited back to choreograph Sir Cliff’s Concert Series at the Royal Albert Hall.
Forsythe seems at ease with this sort of life, slipping in and out of celebrity existence. He is perfectly happy to choreograph routines for Kylie Minogue, Meatloaf and Chaka Khan one minute while rehearsing Fred and Barney the next. It’s this sort of variety that he attributes to his ongoing success. “Whether I’m doing step touch and over exaggerated movements like in the Flintstones show or Kylie Minogue choreography, it’s really all the same thing. It’s dancing and that’s what I love to do.”
A late bloomer in terms of training, Forsythe entered the world of professional dance at the age of 20. He was fortunate enough to fall into its golden age, the 1980s, where jobs were plentiful and variety was the name of the game. Forsythe took every job he could, regardless of the money and prestige. He chose to work with numerous choreographers. “Some were amazing, some weren’t. But they all helped me hone my skills,” he says. After performing in numerous stage shows, video clips and musicals he turned his hand at choreographing attaining three major contracts in as many months, a theme park, cruise ship and a large commercial event. That is when he began his own production company, Grayboy Entertainment, with business partner Graeme Gillies. Eight years later, Grayboy produces on-board entertainment for the Fair Princess, Pacific Sky, Princess Cruises, Pacific Princess and the Tahiti Princess cruise ships. It also has its own dance agency and is responsible for choreographing numerous high profile events. How does he fit it all in? “I’ve got great assistants,” he laughs, pausing to actually contemplate the question. Then the real answer hits him, “Oh yeah, and I work hard.”
Forsythe attributes a great deal of his jazz/commercial dance style to the influence of Ballroom dancing. “I absolutely love it. The lines, the lifts, it’s such a great art form. Every year I tape the annual Ballroom championships and watch them over and over again. I think the dancers that I use, the ones with Ballroom experience, seem to be able to pick up my style a lot easier than those that haven’t trained in Ballroom.”
Grayboy holds extensive annual auditions searching for new performers worldwide, particularly for cruise ship work. As of 2004, auditions will extend to London, as Forsythe wants to create a ‘more international feel’ in the many and varied casts of the numerous cruise ships. Forysthe admits that he likes to mix things up in terms of look and ability but looks specifically for those performers who can take direction, are well trained and most of all, are happy to be there. “I don’t like to have all six foot girls or guys in one cast. I like, you know, one five-foot, one six foot, one in between. I think it’s more visually interesting. But I guess what I’m really looking for, is performers with passion, who love what they do. You don’t have to be the best dancer in the world, you just have to be willing to work at it.”
Forsythe continues to travel the world, choreographing and scouting for new talent. He spends a great deal of time in London and Australia as well as having to accompany different casts to various work locations. Having spent so long in the industry, he has set up the infrastructure of his business to allow for time to conquer new career goals while appreciating the ones he’s already achieved. “Yeah, it’s great to be where I am right now and the best thing is, I still love what I do. I think over the years I have mellowed a little, but there’s still a lot more I want to accomplish.”
For more information on Grayboy Entertainment go to www.grayboyentertainment.com or www.williamaforsythe.com
