Interview: Chris Scott Talks So You Think You Can Dance, The LXD and Step Up Series

Interview: Chris Scott Talks So You Think You Can Dance, The LXD and Step Up Series, Written by: Karen Benardello Some people find a hobby they’re so good at and talented in growing up that their gift is easily transferred into a thriving, award-worthy career. Such is the case with choreographer and actor Chris Scott, who found his calling for dance after signing up for tap lessons while attending the famed Hollywood High School. The dancer, who has found success choreographing routines for television shows, films and an Internet web series, effortlessly showcases his talent in his memorable recent projects. The multi-faceted choreographer and dancer just received his first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Choreography for his work on the ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ routines ‘Misty Blue’ and ‘Velocity.’ Besides being a resident choreographer on Fox’s hit dancing competition, Scott is also a choreographer and founder of the acclaimed web series, ‘The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers’ (also known as ‘The LXD’). The series follows two groups of rival dancers who use their superpowers to battle each other. Scott also served as a fully credited choreographer on this summer’s dance romance drama, ‘Step Up: Revolution.’ Scott generously took the time recently to talk about his choreography and charity projects over the phone. Among other things, he discussed how he became a choreographer on ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ ‘The LXD’ and ‘Step Up: Revolution;’ his working relationships with fellow choreographers Jon Chu, Adam Shankman, Jamal Sims, Travis Wall and Chuck Maldonado; and how his dancing benefits the charities he works with, including Invisible Children, Inc. ShockYa (SY): You’re serving as a resident choreographer for Fox’s current ninth season of its hit dance competition, ‘So You Think You Can Dance.’ Why did you want to work for the show, and was it a dream of yours to choreograph dancers on the competition? Chris Scott (CS): Yeah, it kind of came up out of nowhere. I choreographed for an innovative web series, called ‘The LXD,’ or ‘The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers.’ ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ found us on YouTube. The web series was created by Jon M. Chu, who directed ‘Step Up 2: The Streets,’ which is how I met him and started working with The LXD. After ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ found ‘The LXD’ on YouTube, they called us to do a number. So we went on the show, and did a dance to a song by Coldplay. It went over really well, and was well-received. It was a big, beautiful dance with freestylers, crunkers and a bunch of different styles. From doing that piece on the show, they asked me to come in and do the season finale of season 6. I didn’t actually plan on choreographing the show. I didn’t know it was possible for me. Then they took me in, and asked me to do a big number on the finale, which was big for me. That’s a big honor, and a lot of people could have done that piece, but they asked me. To continue reading this interview, please visit Shockya.