Sean Bankhead

Sean Bankhead is an American dancer and choreographer. He served as a judge on the American music competition series Becoming A Popstar.

Sean Bankhead
Birth nameSean Bankhead
BornPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres
  • Dance
Occupation(s)
Years active2006–active
Websitehttps://seanbankhead.com/

Bankhead has created the choreography for many music videos, including Lil Nas X's "Industry Baby"(featuring Jack Harlow), Normani's "Motivation" and "Wild Side"(featuring Cardi B), Cardi B's "Up", Sam Smith's "Dancing with a Stranger" (with Normani) and "I'm Ready" (with Demi Lovato), and FKA Twigs' "Tears in the Club" (featuring The Weeknd), and Victoria Monet’s “On My Mama” which was praised for its homage and nostalgic look.

He has also choreographed concert tours, and television and film productions. Throughout his career, he has earned five nominations for the MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography.

Early life

Bankhead was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1] He moved to Atlanta, Georgia and began his career by uploading a dance video to YouTube in 2006 on his channel "Seanalator". The video went viral and amassed approximately 1.5 million views.[2] In 2007, Bankhead landed his first high-profile gig, appearing as a love interest in the music video for "Promise Ring" by Tiffany Evans. The following year, he was hired as a dancer for Beyoncé, performing with the singer during a live performance of "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" on The Tyra Banks Show.[3][4]

Career

Music videos and live performances

In 2014, Bankhead choreographed the music video for Fifth Harmony's "Boss", and later on their music video for "Down", which earned him a MTV Video Music Award nomination; since then he has developed a close working relationship with former Fifth Harmony member Normani, referring to her as his muse,[5] and choreographing her music videos for "Motivation", "Dancing with a Stranger"(with Sam Smith), and "Wild Side"(featuring Cardi B).[6] He has also frequently collaborated with Missy Elliott, working with her on the music video for her single "I'm Better", and her Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award medley at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards.[7][8]

Bankhead has also choreographed, directed, and performed many music videos and performances, such as Cardi B's "Up" and her live performance of "WAP" (with Megan Thee Stallion) at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards,[9] Megan Thee Stallion's "Her",[10] Sam Smith & Demi Lovato's "I'm Ready", Saweetie's "Best Friend" (featuring Doja Cat),[11] Lil Nas X's "Industry Baby"(featuring Jack Harlow),[5] and their live performance of "Montero (Call Me by Your Name)" on SNL, City Girls' "Twerkulator",[12] Alesso's "When I'm Gone", (with Katy Perry),[13] and "Tears in the Club" by FKA Twigs (featuring The Weeknd).[14] He has also worked for Britney Spears[15] Saucy Santana (with Latto),[16] and Drake.[17]

Additional choreographed work

Bankhead has choreographed for various television shows, including the Lee Daniels drama series Empire,[18] and the Lena Waithe BET series Boomerang.[3] He choreographed all of the dance performances for the Fox musical drama Star.[19] Bankhead was credited for choreographing a dance routine for Will Ferrell in the movie Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.[20] In 2013, he served as the assistant choreographer for Beyoncé's The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour.

In 2020, Bankhead choreographed the Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl LIV commercial featuring Missy Elliott and H.E.R.[21] The following year, he worked with Pepsi again, choreographing a commercial featuring Doja Cat.[22] In 2022, Bankhead joined Joe Jonas and Becky G to serve as a judges on the MTV & TikTok American music competition series Becoming A Popstar.[23]

Personal life

Bankhead is openly gay.[24]

He stated in interview with Yahoo! Life that he is close friends with fellow choreographer JaQuel Knight.[25]

Awards

In 2021, Bankhead was placed on the 'Performers of the Year' section of the Out100 list by Out magazine,[26] which is an annual list described as a "prestigious compilation of the year's most impactful and influential LGBTQ+ people".[27]

Award Year[lower-alpha 1] Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Category Result Ref.
Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2022 "Industry Baby" (performed by Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow) Excellence in Music Video Silver [28][29]
Dance Magazine Awards 2019 "Motivation" (performed by Normani) Best Music Video Nominated [30]
iHeartRadio Music Awards 2020 "Motivation" (performed by Normani) Favorite Music Video Choreography Nominated [31]
MTV Video Music Awards 2017 "Down" (performed by Fifth Harmony) Best Choreography Nominated
2020 "Motivation" (performed by Normani) Nominated
2022 "Wild Side" (performed by Normani and Cardi B) Nominated [32]
"Industry Baby" (performed by Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow) Nominated
"Tears in the Club" performed by FKA Twigs and The Weeknd) Nominated
UK Music Video Awards 2021 "Industry Baby" (performed by Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow) Best Choreography in a Video Nominated [33][34]

Notes
  1. Indicates the year of ceremony. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.

References
  1. "Why Missy Elliott and Normani Love This Choreographer". Billboard. December 13, 2019. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  2. "You've Probably Already Tried One of Sean Bankhead's Dance Moves". PAPER. August 10, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  3. "How Choreographer Sean Bankhead Became a Social Sensation". dancemagazine. September 6, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  4. "Sean Bankhead on dancing with Beyonce, why it's hard to find dancers for Normani, Summer Walker and more". www.revolt.tv. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  5. Louis, Pierre-Antoine (September 4, 2021). "Signature Moves With Sean Bankhead". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  6. "Why Missy Elliott and Normani Love This Choreographer". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  7. "Missy Elliott The Video Director: 5 Times The Rapper Shined Behind The Camera". BET. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  8. Stoner, Alyson (September 6, 2019). "Performing With Missy Elliott, 17 Years Later". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  9. "Choreographer Sean Bankhead Breaks Down Normani's Logic-Defying "Wild Side" Moves". Pitchfork. August 2, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  10. "Megan Thee Stallion's Her Is an Anthem For Folks With She/Her Pronouns". www.out.com. August 15, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  11. "Sean Bankhead's Signature Moves Are Hard To Miss In Today's Biggest Music Videos From Lil Nas X To Normani". Global Grind. July 27, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  12. "City Girls Unveil "Twerkulator" Music Video Directed by Missy Elliott". HYPEBEAST. July 8, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  13. Macias, Ernesto (January 27, 2022). ""It Was Undeniable": Katy Perry and Alesso Have a Post-Collab Catch Up". Interview Magazine. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  14. Méndez, Chris Malone. "FKA Twigs and The Weeknd Cry 'Tears In The Club' Together". Forbes. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  15. "You Can Thank This Celebrity Choreographer For Creating the 'Nae Nae'". NBC News. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  16. "Saucy Santana Playfully Channels Nostalgia In "Booty" Video". VIBE.com. July 20, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  17. Rodriguez, Tommy (May 13, 2020). "Sean Bankhead and Red Bull Dance to Host Choreo Workshop". Bleu. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  18. Watson, Tiffany (June 16, 2016). "Stomping out HIV/AIDS and violence in the community through hip hop". The Enquirer-Gazette. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2023 – via PressReader.
  19. Thurmond, Cierra. "Choreographer Sean Bankhead On Why Missy Elliott Is A True Innovator". Nylon. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  20. "Sean Bankhead stays Humble!". The BEAST Network (TBSN). May 11, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  21. "Missy Elliott And H.E.R. Join Forces In Studio And On Set For Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl LIV Commercial". PepsiCo, Inc. Official Website. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  22. Gardner, Chris (September 10, 2021). "Doja Cat Remakes 'Grease' Hit "You're the One that I Want" for Pepsi Spot Debuting During MTV VMAs". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  23. Petski, Denise (March 4, 2022). "MTV, TikTok & Pepsi Team On 'Becoming A Popstar' Music Competition Series With Joe Jonas, Becky G & Sean Bankhead". Deadline. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  24. "Reimaginings: Meet Dyllon Burnside, Sean Bankhead and DJ Jash Jay". www.out.com. June 15, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  25. "'Single Ladies' JaQuel Knight becomes first choreographer to land the cover of 'Billboard' magazine". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  26. "2021 Out100: LGBTQ+ Performers of the Year". www.out.com. November 4, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  27. "out100". www.out.com. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  28. "Entertainment Lions For Music". The Work. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  29. "Sean Bankhead Awards | AdForum Talent: The creative industry network". www.adforum.com. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  30. Magazine, Dance (December 9, 2019). "These Are the Dance Moments Our Readers Loved the Most This Year". Dance Magazine. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  31. "Sean Bankhead". IMDb. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  32. Langston, Keith (July 26, 2022). "Here are your nominees for the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  33. "technical & craft – ukmva21". Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  34. "London Alley - London Alley Scores 6 UK Music Video Award Nominations". London Alley. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
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