Tony Testa

Tony Testa
Born
Anthony Joseph Testa

(1987-03-31) 31 March 1987 (age 37)
Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S.
Occupation(s)Live Stage, Music Video Choreographer/Creative Director
Years active2005–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2018; div. 2020)​

Anthony Joseph Testa (born 31 March 1987) is an American choreographer, creative director, educator and dancer.[1][2][3]

Early life

Testa started dancing at age eight in his hometown of Fort Collins, Colorado at Westin Arts Academy & Artistic Fusion Dance Academy.[4] Testa married actress Stefania Spampinato in May 2018.[5] The divorce was finalized in December 2020.

Career

His career as a choreographer began when he made a demo reel using his mother's video camera. In 2002 Tony was picked by choreographer Brian Friedman to tour with Aaron Carter for his Jukebox tour. His demo reel was seen by Janet Jackson, who hired him to choreograph for her promotional tour that year.[6]

Testa has choreographed for Britney Spears,[7][8] and for Nickelodeon's Dance on Sunset (2008).[9] In 2010 he began choreographing for Kylie Minogue on her "All The Lovers", "Better Than Today" and "Get Outta My Way" music videos. He was the associate director and choreographer for her Aphrodite: Les Folies Tour (2011).

Testa was hired by director Kenny Ortega as an associate choreographer for Michael Jackson's final tour This Is It,[7][10] Dancing With The Stars featuring Corbin Bleu, The Rocky Horror Picture Show benefit for The Painted Turtle, and the remake of Dirty Dancing.[11]

In November 2011, Testa co-directed the opening of the American Music Awards with Wade Robson. Later that year he served as the Creative Director for Season 1 of The Voice UK and for One Direction on Saturday Night Live (Season 37, Episode 18).

In 2012, Testa choreographed for the K-pop band Shinee in their music video "Sherlock (Clue + Note)",[12][13] which earned the band the award for Best Dance Performance Male Group at the 2012 Mnet Asian Music Awards. He choreographed the music videos and live performances for Shinee's "Dream Girl,"[14] "Everybody",[15] and "Married to the Music" as well as TVXQ's "Catch Me" (known in Korea as "Hulk Dance") and "Something".

Testa choreographed Super Junior's "Mamacita" and "Super Clap". For Exo, Testa choreographed the band's "Wolf" and "Overdose".[16] He was the art director for Exo's first solo concert The Lost Planet.[17] He choreographed "Lion Heart" by Girls' Generation with Shim Jae-won, "Fire Truck", "My First and Last" and "Cherry Bomb" by NCT.

Testa is a dance educator for both the New York City Dance Alliance[18] and Monsters Of Hip Hop dance conventions,[19] and a guest speaker at the TEDx conference in Los Angeles in June 2013.[20]

Choreography

  • Concert tour for Demi Lovato - Choreographer (2011)
  • Promotional Concert Tour for Britney Spears. - Choreographer (2008) [8]
  • Promotional Concert Tour for the singer Janet Jackson and Nelly. Aired on NBC Today Show- Co-Choreographer (2006) [6]
  • Music Videos for the singer Kylie Minogue. Songs titled "Get Outta My Way" and "All the Lovers" - 2010
  • Dance Spirit Magazine Article.(2008) [8]

Director

  • AMAs live performance by singer Nicki Minaj and DJ David Guetta - Co-Creative Director & Choreographer (20 November 2011)
  • Saturday Night Live for the band 1 Direction - Creative Director (7 April 2012)[20]
  • The Voice UK - Season 1 - Creative Director (28 April - 3 May 2012)
  • Concert Tour for Kylie Minogue. Tour name: Aphrodite: Les Folies World Tour. - Associate Director & Choreographer (19 February 2011 – 14 July 2011) [18]
  • Leicester Square Theatre show for Polly Rae: The Hurly Burly Show. - Associate Director (2011)

References

  1. ^ S.M.ROOKIES introduces Hansol, Jisung, & Mark + practice session clip with Tony Testa | allkpop.com
  2. ^ Top Los Angeles choreographers frolic in fountains for Dance Camera West | arts•meme
  3. ^ Choreographer Tony Testa Checks Out 'Viva Elvis' | Las Vegas Review-Journal
  4. ^ Owens, Jennifer. "Alumni". Artistic Fusion Dance Academy. IBU. Archived from the original on 9 June 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  5. ^ Benedetta (2019-10-13). "Stefania Spampinato, chi è il marito Tony Testa: età, foto, carriera". ViaggiNews.com (in Italian). Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  6. ^ a b Kay, Tonia. "Why do a demo reel?". Answers4dancers. Archived from the original on 22 April 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  7. ^ a b Choreographer Tony Testa Checks Out 'Viva Elvis' | Las Vegas Review-Journal
  8. ^ a b c Donatelli, Jen. "Q & A with Tony Testa". Dance Spirit Magazine. Macfadden Communications Group. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  9. ^ Macel, Emily. "For Real?". Dance Magazine. Macfadden Communications Group. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  10. ^ Murray, Rebecca. "Kenny Ortega Discusses 'Michael Jackson's This Is It'". About.com. IAC/InterActiveCorp. Archived from the original on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  11. ^ Chitwood, Adam. "Lionsgate Puts DIRTY DANCING Remake On Hold". Collider.com. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  12. ^ Joonni. "SHINee Takes Group Photo With Choreographer Tony Testa". soompi.com. Enswers, Inc. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  13. ^ SHINee meets Tony Testa - Yahoo News Singapore
  14. ^ Five Reasons To Get Excited About SHINee's "Dream Girl" Comeback - Popdust
  15. ^ [Unitedkpop Single Review] Shinee – ‘Everybody’
  16. ^ "火熱的瞬間XOXO EXO 20140509 Ep1 | bananaidol". Archived from the original on 2015-03-24. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  17. ^ "EXO Reviews - Tony Testa misses twelve members of EXO - Page 1 - Wattpad". www.wattpad.com. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  18. ^ a b "Faculty". nycdance.com. NYCDA. Archived from the original on 2017-08-14. Retrieved 2013-04-12.
  19. ^ "Faculty". Monsters Of Hip Hop. Monstersofhiphop.com. Archived from the original on 5 April 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  20. ^ a b Ivanova, Lora. "TEdx". Rajveer Singh Rathore. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2013.