Lil Buck Explained

Charles Riley
Birth Date:25 May 1988
Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Agent:Clear Talent Group
Occupation:Dancer

Charles "Lil Buck" Riley (born May 25, 1988) is an American dancer, actor and model from Memphis, Tennessee, who specializes in a style of street dance called jookin. He gained popularity after director Spike Jonze used his cell phone to record an interpretive performance of The Dying Swan by Lil Buck and Yo-Yo Ma.[1] [2] [3] Jonze uploaded the video to YouTube and as of November 2015, it had amassed over three million views.[4]

Early life

Lil Buck was born in Chicago and raised in Memphis.[5] He discovered jookin when he was 12 years old after his older sister showed him some basic jookin dance moves in their living room. After learning more about the dance from neighborhood mentors he spent less time doing his other hobbies, including drawing and basketball, so that he could focus solely on improving his dancing. When he was 17, he appeared in a locally produced jookin DVD[6] called Memphis Jookin Vol. 1.[7]

Lil Buck studied ballet for two years while on scholarship at the New Ballet Ensemble (NBE) in Memphis.[8] [9] He accepted the scholarship under the condition that he would not have to wear tights, but he eventually relented so that he could perform with the company. It was also while at NBE that Riley first performed The Dying Swan, a choreographic collaboration with his instructor at NBE, Katie Smythe (CEO / Creative Director - NBE). She explained the background of the piece on the way to a NBE school performance in West Memphis, Arkansas.[7]

Career

2010–2011: The Swan and Madonna

Lil Buck moved to Los Angeles when he was 19 to pursue a career in dance.[7] In 2010, he appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show[10] and co-choreographed the music video for the song "Tightrope" by Janelle Monáe.

In 2011, director and former ballet dancer Damian Woetzel met Lil Buck and paired him with Yo-Yo Ma in "The Swan" performance that went viral on YouTube. Woetzel heard about Lil Buck from his wife Heather Watts who saw an old YouTube video clip of Lil Buck freestyle dancing to Camille Saint-Saëns’ Le cygne (The Swan) in a New Ballet Ensemble (NBE) school performance in West Memphis, Arkansas. NBE director Katie Smythe introduced Buck to Saint-Saëns' music and the idea of applying jookin' to classical music. Watts showed the clip to her husband Woetzel who then showed the clip to Yo-Yo Ma. They all eventually met by using Facebook to contact Katie Smythe (Lil Buck's ballet teacher) who facilitated the introduction.[7]

After "The Swan" performance, Woetzel's professional relationship with Lil Buck continued. Woetzel invited Lil Buck to be the artist in residence at the 2011 Vail International Dance Festival.[10] [11] He paired Lil Buck with Yo-Yo Ma again for a performance at the 2011 U.S.-China Forum on the Arts and Culture in Beijing.[12] [13] Lil Buck was the first person in his family to travel outside of the United States. His trip was documented in a short independent film titled Lil Buck Goes to China. The film was directed by Ole Schell who is the son of Orville Schell,[14] an American journalist based in China who organized the forum in Beijing. After his trip, Lil Buck was photographed by Bruce Weber for an interview in the Spring 2011 issue of VMan magazine.[15] [16]

Aside from working with Woetzel and Yo-Yo Ma, Lil Buck danced for Madonna during her Super Bowl XLVI halftime show after winning the "Dance for Madonna Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Competition".[12] [17] [18] He eventually joined The MDNA Tour as one of 22 dancers.[17] [19] [20] Due to all of his accomplishments during the year, Dance Spirit magazine named him one of "The Most Influential People of 2011".[21]

2012–2014: Cirque Du Soleil, films, and modeling

In 2012, Lil Buck was named one of Dance Magazines "25 to Watch".[9] The same year, he modeled in a national GAP ad[17] and danced in two NOWNESS videos, one of which was directed by ballet choreographer Benjamin Millepied.[22] The other video was directed by Jacob Sutton who submitted a longer version to Cinedans, a Dutch film festival that showcases films based on dance.[23]

Lil Buck spent most of 2013 dancing in the Cirque du Soleil show .[24] [25] He modeled men's clothing in an 8-page spread in GQ magazine titled "How to Kick Your Jeans Habit".[16] He also appeared on The Colbert Report[14] and spoke at the Aspen Ideas Festival.[26]

Lil Buck performed with Yo-Yo Ma a third time at an event directed by Woetzel and held at (Le) Poisson Rouge in New York City.[3] He and his cousin Ron "Prime Tyme" Myles eventually won a Bessie Award for this performance.[27] Later in the year, Lil Buck made the August 2013 cover of Dance magazine[28] and briefly appeared in the Spike Jonze film Her as a busker/dancer.[29]

In March 2014, Lil Buck performed at the TEDxTeen conference in New York City.[30] In April, he appeared in another Jacob Sutton dance film sponsored by Diesel[31] and he danced in the New York City Ballet's Spring premiere that was choreographed by artist JR and scored by musician Woodkid.[32] [33] Lil Buck was a guest judge on season 11 of So You Think You Can Dance.[33] He performed in the opening credits for Spike Lee's 2014 film, Da Sweet Blood of Jesus.[34]

2015–present: Versailles and collaborations

In May, Lil Buck performed in Versailles with dancers from Benjamin Millepied's ballet company.[35] Afterward, he went on tour with Madonna again to promote her album Rebel Heart. In a continuation of his interest in modern dance, Lil Buck appeared in a three-and-a-half minute rag & bone commercial with the classical dance artist Mikhail Baryshnikov.[36] He modeled for French jeans retailer Kaporal[37] and partnered with Versace to create a line of sneakers exclusively available online and at Versace's New York City store.[38] [39] Due to his accomplishments, he made the November 2015 cover of The Wall Street Journals "Innovators Issue".[40] [41]

In 2016, Lil Buck collaborated with dancer Jon Boogz and artist Alexa Meade to create "Color of Reality", a video addressing gun violence. The New York Times likened the video to "...van Gogh — that is, if one of his paintings were brought to life as a performative protest."[42]

Personal life

Lil Buck is vegan and has seven brothers and sisters.[24] Though he primarily identifies with Memphis jookin', he is a fan of the Brooklyn-based street dance style flexing.[7] He is married to dancer Ai Shimatsu.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Balletic Breakin' . Sally . Sommer . Dance Magazine . January 2012 . February 17, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120309024555/http://dancemagazine.com/issues/January-2012/Balletic-Breakin . March 9, 2012 .
  2. Web site: Blank . Christopher . December 8, 2011 . Crown prince of jookin' returns for New Ballet's 'Nut Remix' . GoMemphis.com . February 3, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130312102023/http://www.gomemphis.com/news/2011/dec/08/crown-prince-of-jookin-returns-for-new-ballet/ . March 12, 2013.
  3. News: Macaulay . Alastair . April 3, 2013 . Hip-Hop Meets Ballet in One Man's Body . The New York Times . February 9, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151026113622/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/04/arts/dance/lil-buck-at-le-poisson-rouge.html?_r=0 . October 26, 2015.
  4. Opening Ceremony Blog Exclusive - Spike Jonze Presents: Lil Buck and Yo-Yo Ma . YouTube . live performance . April 11, 2011 . February 3, 2014.
  5. Web site: February 28, 2014 . Ballet Hip Hop? . MTVVoice.com . April 1, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140423164857/http://mtvvoices.com/en/2014/02/ballet-hip-hop/ . April 23, 2014.
  6. Web site: Jai Productions 'Memphis Jookin Vol 1. Entire DVD PLAYLIST . . 2015-04-23 . 2016-11-28.
  7. Web site: Kourlas . Gia . March 25, 2013 . Lil Buck talks about jookin and his show at Le Poisson Rouge . . February 14, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130614082145/http://www.timeout.com/newyork/dance/lil-buck-talks-about-jookin-and-his-show-at-le-poisson-rouge-1 . June 14, 2013 .
  8. Web site: Johnson . Tamara . May 30, 2013 . Meet Lil Buck: Jookin Master . TheWorldDances.com . February 5, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140221093610/http://www.theworlddances.com/blogs/2013/05/30/meet-lil-buck-jookin-master/ . February 21, 2014 . dead .
  9. Web site: 25 to Watch . Kina . Poon . Dance Magazine . January 2012 . February 26, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120423160929/http://dancemagazine.com/issues/January-2012/2012-25-to-watch . April 23, 2012.
  10. Web site: Street dancer Charles 'Lil Buck' Riley to be artist in residence at Vail International Dance Festival . RealVail.com . May 12, 2011 . February 17, 2012.
  11. News: Macaulay . Alastair . August 6, 2013 . From Winning to 'Wow,' Festival Fun Unfurls in Crisscrossing Acts: Vail Dance Festival Has an International Evening . The New York Times . February 9, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130807164851/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/07/arts/dance/vail-dance-festival-has-an-international-evening.html . August 7, 2013.
  12. Web site: February 23, 2013 . Lil Buck Explains Memphis Jookin On Colbert Report After Video "Goes To China" . MemphisRap.com . February 3, 2014.
  13. Web site: Yo Yo Ma and Lil' Buck Perform The Swan in Beijing. Josh. Chin. The Wall Street Journal. November 21, 2011. February 17, 2012.
  14. Web site: Wong . Edward . March 1, 2013 . Taking American Dance to China, and Bringing Back a Film . The New York Times . February 17, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130307203419/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/01/taking-american-dance-to-china-and-bringing-back-a-film/ . March 7, 2013.
  15. Web site: Lil Buck - V Man Magazine, New York City . BruceWeber.com . April 1, 2014.
  16. Web site: How to Kick Your Jeans Habit Editorial from GQ Magazine, February 2013 . MyFDB.com . April 1, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407193735/https://www.myfdb.com/editorials/124999-gq-editorial-how-to-kick-your-jeans-habit-february-2013 . April 7, 2014.
  17. Web site: September 11, 2012 . Lil' Buck: Memphis Jookin In Gap "Denim Moves You" Commercial (Video) . MemphisRap.com . February 3, 2014.
  18. Web site: Washburn . Dan . February 3, 2012 . Before Lil Buck Dances With Madonna at Super Bowl, Watch Him Dance in China . AsiaSociety.org . February 17, 2012.
  19. Web site: Blank . Christopher . February 7, 2012 . Memphis dancer Lil Buck to tour with Madonna . CommercialAppeal.com . February 26, 2012.
  20. Web site: July 15, 2012 . MDNA Tour details . Mad-Eyes.com . August 15, 2012.
  21. Web site: Feller . Alison . December 9, 2011 . The Most Influential People of 2011 . Dance Spirit . April 1, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120201205414/http://www.dancespirit.com/2011/12/the-most-influential-people-of-2011/ . February 1, 2012.
  22. Web site: July 24, 2012 . Jacob Sutton: Lil Buck . Nowness.com . February 3, 2014.
  23. Web site: SHORTS 7 Urban Style . Cinedans.nl . February 17, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140222033953/http://cinedans.nl/2013/films/shorts-7-urban-style . February 22, 2014.
  24. News: Mesmerizing Moves. Harss. Marina. August 2013. Dance Magazine. February 3, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130922083519/http://www.dancemagazine.com/issues/August-2013/Mesmerizing-moves . September 22, 2013.
  25. Web site: Leach . Robin . May 24, 2013 . 'Michael Jackson One' is Cirque du Soleil's best — and includes snow at Mandalay Bay . Las Vegas Sun . February 5, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131213060945/http://www.lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2013/may/24/michael-jackson-one-cirque-du-soleil-best-and-incl/ . December 13, 2013.
  26. Web site: Charles "Lil Buck" Riley . AspenIdeas.org . April 1, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151014193400/http://www.aspenideas.org/speaker/charles-lil-buck-riley . October 14, 2015 .
  27. News: Burke . Siobhan . October 8, 2013 . Bessies Are Presented to Dancers in Ceremony at the Apollo . The New York Times . February 9, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131020024629/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/09/arts/dance/bessies-are-presented-to-dancers-in-ceremony-at-the-apollo.html . October 20, 2013.
  28. Web site: August 2013 . Dance Magazine . February 14, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130815131731/http://dancemagazine.com/issues/August-2013 . August 15, 2013.
  29. Web site: Her (2013) – Full Cast & Crew . IMDb.com . February 9, 2014.
  30. Web site: Lil Buck . TedXTeen.com . April 1, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407062140/http://www.tedxteen.com/speakers-performers/tedxteen-2014/201-lil-buck . April 7, 2014.
  31. News: Feller . Alison . April 9, 2014 . The A to Zs of Dance . Dance Spirit . April 29, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140721071946/http://www.dancespirit.com/2014/04/the-a-to-zs-of-dance/ . July 21, 2014.
  32. Web site: Dalzell . Jenny . February 27, 2014 . NYCB + JR + Lil Buck + Woodkid = Coolest Thing in Dance Since Demi Plié . Dance Spirit . April 1, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140827043040/http://www.dancespirit.com/2014/02/nycb-jr-lil-buck-woodkid-coolest-thing-in-dance-since-demi-plie/ . August 27, 2014.
  33. News: Ryzik. Melena. A Man in Constant Motion. July 4, 2014. The New York Times. June 26, 2014.
  34. Web site: June 24, 2014. Spike Lee's Kickstarter Movie Is a Surprise Remake. Will Supporters Get What They Paid For?. Slate. December 25, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20140708150826/http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2014/06/24/spike_lee_s_kickstarter_movie_da_sweet_blood_of_jesus_is_a_stealth_remake.html. July 8, 2014 .
  35. Web site: Lil Buck Dazzles in Versailles Performance. Diderich. Joelle. May 11, 2015. WWD. December 13, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150512020651/http://wwd.com/eye/parties/lil-buck-versailles-performance-10126815/. May 12, 2015 .
  36. Web site: Mikhail Baryshnikov and Lil Buck are Mesmerizing in New Dance for Rag & Bone. Chernikoff. Leah. February 5, 2015. Elle. December 13, 2015.
  37. Web site: Kaporal x Lil Buck – King of Jookin. Vavassori. Kédric. June 4, 2015. TRENDS periodical. French. December 13, 2015.
  38. Web site: Versace and Lil Buck's Sneaker Collaboration Takes Flight Today. Carlos. Marjon. October 30, 2015. Vogue. December 13, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151031133950/http://www.vogue.com/13366298/lil-buck-dancing-versace-sneakers/. October 31, 2015.
  39. Web site: PROMO: Lil Buck's Mind-Blowing, Time Bending Moves. Savage. Bill. Complex. December 13, 2015.
  40. Web site: Joan Smalls & Lil Buck x WSJ . November 12, 2015 . FashionCapCity.com . December 13, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151225204747/http://www.fashioncapcity.com/2014/11/joan-small-lil-buck-x-wsj.html . December 25, 2015 .
  41. Web site: Lil Buck Elevates Jookin' to an Art. Gay. Jason. November 5, 2015. Wall Street Journal. December 13, 2015.
  42. News: Lil Buck and Jon Boogz, Wearing Paint as They Tell a Tale. Kourlas. Gia. September 18, 2016. The New York Times. December 31, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160922125812/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/19/arts/dance/lil-buck-and-jon-boogz-wearing-paint-as-they-tell-a-tale.html. September 22, 2016.

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