Chester Whitmore
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Artistic Director / Choreographer / Principal Dancer
Dancing since 1974, Chester Whitmore originally studied to be a cinematographer. An encounter with famed tap dancer Fayard Nicholas changed his life. Eventually, Mr. Nicholas became his teacher and mentor.
Mr. Whitmore has been jumping ever since. Lately, he has been traveling around the world on tour as dancer, teacher, choreographer, director and entertainer. He and his dance company, Black Ballet Jazz, have performed with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra under the direction of Mercer Ellington, the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Frank Foster, Joe Williams and the great Miles Davis.
The summer of 1999 sent him touring through Canada and Europe with the Smithsonian Masterworks Jazz Orchestra in a tribute to Duke Ellington.
Chester Whitmore's choreography can be seen in music videos by Weird Al Yankovic, Tina Marie, Boys 2 Men, Sugar Ray, and most recently in the hit movie musical "La La Land".
The NAACP Image Awards (1989-1994), Soul of American Music, and Stellar Awards (Gospel Music Awards) show Mr. Whitmore’s versatility in choreographing for diverse groups, such as the Nicholas Brothers with Savion Glover, M.C. Hammer, Lavert, Bebe and Cece Winans, Vickie Winans and dance tributes to Dick Clark and The Artist (formerly known as Prince).
Mr. Whitmore is actively involved in projects teaching young people on the history of Vernacular Jazz Dance and Central Avenue through Los Angeles Cultural Affairs events as performer or as teacher for the Parks and Recreation Division, African Marketplace, and in schools and universities throughout the U.S.
Teaching/lecture assignments include Herrang Dance Camp(Sweden), Los Angeles City College, UCLA (Ballroom Dance Club), The California African-American Museum, and dance performances, Salzburg (Austria), the San Francisco Jazz Festival (1997), the Monterey Jazz Festival (1996), The Henry Ford Theater ("Lord of the Swing") and Los Angeles Union Station.
Chester Whitmore has taught almost everyone who has made a name in the swing scene.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK8SDJpJQu8
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somebody
Sat, 05/18/2019 - 7:21pm
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Dancing since 1974 and a
Dancing since 1974 and a protege of Fayard Nicholas (of the Nicholas Brothers) Chester has been dancing his way around the world. These days he is a dancer, teacher, performer, choreographer, director, stunt man and entertainer. His choreography can be seen in music videos for Boys II Men, Sugar Ray, Teena Marie as well as working with artists such as Savion Glover, MC Hammer, Prince and many more. Also a highly renowned drummer and band leader he has worked with some of the best in the entertainment industry. He has performed with his dance company Black Ballet Jazz, with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra and the great Miles Davies. Chester exudes boundless positive energy and passion for dance and is a born entertainer. His contributions have been far too many to name them all. He can only be seen to be believed.
somebody
Mon, 04/20/2020 - 7:55pm
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Chester Whitmore Bio from TheActorsChoice
Chester Whitmore has been dancing since 1974 and a protege of Fayard Nicholas (of the Nicholas Brothers) Chester has been dancing his way around the world. These days he is a dancer, teacher, performer, choreographer, director, stunt man and entertainer. His choreography can be seen in music videos for Boys II Men, Sugar Ray, Teena Marie as well as working with artists such as Savion Glover, MC Hammer, Prince and many more. Also a highly renowned drummer and band leader he has worked with some of the best in the entertainment industry.
He has performed with his dance company, Black Ballet Jazz, and with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, and the Count Basie Orchestra. His musical range is from pop to Old School, where he has worked with many of the great performers entertainers in the industries of jazz, Cab Calloway, Mercer Ellington, Les Brown, Louie Bellson, Miles Davis, John Hendricks, Eartha Kitt, The Ink Spots, Barbara Morrison and Kenny Burrell, just to name a few. Chester exudes boundless positive energy and passion for dance and is a born entertainer. His contributions have been far too many to name them all.
He has choreographed 5 major television shows in 80s and 90s: NAACP - 7 years; The Soul of American Music - 6 years; The Miss Collegiate Afro-American pageant-5 years; Stomp - 3 years; Dick Clark rock'em sock'em New Year's Eve-3 years. His Choreography work includes: The Night Stalker - 1970; Freebie and the Bean; Killer Email with James Cann; The Octagon with Chuck Norris; Who Am I - with Jackie Chan; Tuxedo - Jackie Chan; Blade 2; Taps with Gregory Hines; Strange Days; Winchell HBO; Smooth Criminal; The 13th Floor; Tower of Terror, and many, many others. Mr. Whitmore was one of the first vernacular dance companies that toured the world 27 times.
He also performed with The Black Ballet Jazz and is now mentoring two other dance companies, Central Avenue Dance Ensemble and the LA Swing Dance Posse. He also lectures and performs with the Smithsonian Jazzmaster Orchestra, and has been teaching the world's largest Dance camps in Europe, Herrang Dance Camp for 28 years. Some call him a walking encyclopedia of Jazz Music and Dance, One of the few that execute positive energy and passion for the dance, and a born entertainer.
His mentors name him: "The Lord of The Swing"