Janet has spent her career creating energetic, dynamic visuals that cleverly integrate imaginative interpretations of current and vintage pop culture.
Trained as a choreographer at UCLA, with an emphasis in Modern Dance, she quickly embraced the entertainment world with a fury, creating dance and movement for television, film, commercials, musical theater and corporate shows. Janet transitioned easily into directing, continuing her interest is many areas of entertainment; film, music video, theater, musicals and corporate projects. Using directing and choreographing talents perfected in this variety of disciplines, Janet has been able to make significant contributions in many areas of each project, mounting even the largest of productions with ease.
As a Director she projects a positive and professional authority, she clearly can articulate her needs to a large or small production team to propel her creative vision forward. She is works tirelessly to create a top level product and motivates her team to strive for their best and beyond. Janet is also a consummate collaborator; as a Choreographer she not only creates exciting dance sequences effortlessly, but she also works closely with the director, special effects advisor or editor to develop dynamic concepts that enhance and expand each promo film, television show, commercial or musical production.
As a Theatrical Director/Choreographer, Janet has developed a reputation for innovative work by combining new music with engrossing drama and spectacular dance sequences.
Recent work includes “Tonya and Nancy: the Rock Opera” presented at American Repertory Theater in Boston and “CarnEvil, a Gothic Horror Rock Musical” at Sacred Fools Theater in Hollywood. She is the Artistic Director, with Mark Governor, of Los Angeles Rock Opera Company (www.larockopera.com), which is dedicated to the presentation of new and vintage Rock Operas. Janet was selected to participate in the prestigious Lincoln Center Directors Lab West where she communed with an elite group of emerging leaders of theater. Janet’s bright enthusiasm, ingenuity, and creative insight have earned her many awards in Directing and Choreography.
Janet has a gift for recognizing raw talent and drawing from them strong performances. She has a deep love and understanding of teens having spent years as the Artistic Director of the Dance Company of Beverly Hills High School. As a director of television commercials, she specializes in spots for kids and teens as well as commercials that include movement and dance. In theater she has spotted and cast adult talent who, after performing in her project, went on to work regularly on stage.
Ask Janet about one of her biggest creative influences, and she’ll immediately respond with “early morning cartoons.” At a young age, these Saturday morning antics made an indelible impression; because they were bright, fun and filled with movement they reflected her imaginative view of how entertaining any performance can be. To this day, energized pacing, current musical trends, and the latest pop crazes continue to influence her work. While comedy and a pop-sensibility can be found in her work she also has a fearless approach to powerful or even frightening material. On the set or in rehearsal Janet’s positive, upbeat approach to a project makes her a sought-after Director/Choreographer, she’s just fun to work with. This positive attitude combined with her extensive and varied background in film and live theater have allowed her to be involved in a wide range of projects involving movement, dance, spectacle and pure entertainment.
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Director/Choreographer:
Tonya and Nancy: The Rock Opera., is a Prog-Rock show portraying the outrageous exploits of Olympic ice skaters Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan. Presented at The American Repertory Theater’s Club Oberon in Boston, the show was staged all over the club with audience participation, included video, an aerialist and floating boxes on which Tonya and Nancy “skated.”
shAme, based on The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, this Rock Opera was presented at The King King Nightclub in Hollywood receiving rave reviews and selling out. It also was selected to be performed at Arts Mid-West in Indianapolis. Presented by Los Angeles Rock Opera Company. www.larockopera.com
CarnEvil, a Gothic, Horror Rock Musical, tells the frightening tale of a decrepit Carnival and a young man who must makes a desperate decision to save it. With influences of H.P. Lovecraft and Goth the show sets out to truly scare the audience. The production included hand and shadow puppets, film, magic, blood effects and a bunny.
Tiger Claw Elite Martial Artists, developed for Disney World’s Wide World of Sports, this innovative show deftly incorporates an innovative theatrical premise with top martial artists from around the world to create an exciting, energetic and forceful display of dance and bravado that amaze audiences of all ages.
Dil Mungdi, a music video for artists Sammy Chand and CJ of Rukus Ave. Music, features Bollywood music with a storyline and dance set in an American High School. The video is airing on MTV India as well as in other countries around the world.
Not Enough, this music video for recording artist, Dhana, utilizes moving kaleidoscopes projected on the vocalist and dancers. A simple concept with startlingly beautiful results.
Choreographer:
Balance, a promo-for KCRW, Los Angeles’ trend-setting public radio staion. Featured over 200 multi-cultural dancers shot with motion tracking over 3 days. Winner of The American Choreography Award.
The New Adventures of Old Christine, on CBS,
Janet worked on two episodes one with a comedic dance sequence featuring the series’ star, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Hamish Linklater.
Once On this Island, International City Theater, Long Beach. Janet received a NAACP nomination for her choreography of this wonderful, magical musical.
Avenue X, Odyssey Theater, Los Angeles. This a cappella doo-wop show, set in Brooklyn in 1963 is based on the historic clash between Italian-Americans and the black newcomers to the neighborhood. The production was nominated for an Ovation Award.
Dreamy Wander, a short art film by Ellen Von Unwerth promoting the fashion of courrant designer Erin Fetherston, starring Zooey Deschanel.
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The Los Angeles Rock Opera Company, Janet and Writer/Composer, Mark Governor, are the Artistic Directors of the Los Angeles Rock Opera Company (LAROC), whose mission is to create and stage original and vintage Rock Operas. The performers in LAROC reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of Los Angeles, and productions incorporate cutting edge visual and audio technology making it possible to perform in alternative spaces and cost-effectively create touring productions. Productions include “shAme” at The King King Nightclub in Hollywood, “Possession” at the Unknown Theater and “Push Play” at Highways Performance Space in Santa Monica. www.larockopera.com
Dance Heads On-Site Interactive Entertainment:
As Director of Creative Development for Dance Heads (www.danceheads.com), Janet writes, directs, choreographs and costumes Dance Heads videos. These videos can be found in individual interactive video booths, booths at amusement parks and at corporate and private events. Dance Heads booths can be found worldwide operating in the UK, France, Australia, Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, Japan, South Africa, India, Russia Brazil and expanding. Among the videos created is a Elvis series for Grace Land, the recreation of Bollywood movie songs for India as well as Girl Pop videos for Japan and a full length Dance Heads video for the movie “Kickin’ It Old Skool.” www.danceheads.com
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