September 21, 2007

Sergio Trujillo’s Jersey Boys’ Choreography Experience

September 21st, 2007

SNN News has an in-depth Q&A with Jersey Boys’ choreographer Sergio Trujillo. Sergio discusses his creative process when he begins working on a show; details on choreographing JB; who has influenced his work; and what type of dancing he most enjoys.

Here’s a preview of this interesting interview:

SHN: Even though The Four Seasons did not dance in their performances, did you create musical movement for the Jersey Boys portraying the group?

ST: The movement and choreography for The Four Seasons in Jersey Boys is purely fictional. I took great liberty in creating choreography that never existed. I worked closely with each one of the original four boys: Christian Hoff, Bobby Spencer, Daniel Reichard and John Lloyd Young to create vocabulary that was close to their character.

It was important for me to create movement that was inherent to that specific character…I became a tailor…creating every single step, nuance and mannerism that was organic to each of the Seasons.

In Jersey Boys, when the Seasons are performing in what we call “concert mode,” I wanted the audience to feel as though that movement was happening spontaneously in the same way it does in a rock in roll concert. But don’t be fooled…every single move is choreographed. As a matter of fact, I have changed slight mannerisms etc in the choreography of The Four Seasons in our various touring companies to fit their personas.

4 Comments »

  1. That was a nice article and Q & A to Sergio Trujillo. I have been a fan of Sergio because I loved all the dance moves of the Jersey Boys and I know that he was the one responsible for it. I was talking with my friends and analyzing why JB is such a big hit and I was telling them that one of the many reasons why the audience loves JB is the choreography. It is absolutely awesome and cool. Even the audience and the fans want to dance the way the actors do.
    Sergio…you sure did a fantastic job because you incorporated both the 60′s mode of dancing to the modern mode of dancing and that is why it turned out to be as fantastic as they are. Congratulations to you and wish you the best !

    Comment by Mila — September 21, 2007 @ 9:31 am

  2. The Jersey Boys performance at the Emmy Awards is one example of Sergio’s work, with assistance from John Michael Coppola, who is the SF/Chicago Cast’s “Dance Captain”. Considering the stage at the Curran is your typical elongated rectangular shape, both John and Sergio really did an excellent job in choreographing a performance “in the round”!

    Sergio also deserves all the credit for adding “dance moves” to update the Four Seasons’ performances as portrayed by the Jersey Boys. After attending a Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons concert in the 70′s, seeing DVD footage of past Four Seasons concerts, and Bob Gaudio saying that they were not “glamor boys”, I can see how he brought them “to life” in LaJolla, Broadway and touring cities.

    I’m glad to have seen Sergio’s work on TV with the OBC during their teasers & public appearances and live with both the 1st and 2nd National Touring Casts. He’s truly a valuable asset to the performing arts!

    Comment by Mike B. Magbaleta — September 21, 2007 @ 1:32 pm

  3. I really enjoyed the Emmy performance!!
    In fact I still have it DVRd. I think the dance moves are incredible and the kids who performed them are so talented. And yes, it makes you want to get up and dance.
    Who is the girl behind Jared Spector? She did great, as did the entire group. This is an example of such fine talent being put to the test by a fine choreographer.
    I find it hard to believe any cast other than the one I saw on the Emmys could have done it better. They were adorable. Jared Spector ought to get an Emmy next year…

    Comment by Pam — September 21, 2007 @ 7:00 pm

  4. Pam, it was Lyndsey Cole who got the most face-time on the Emmys of all the girls. :)

    Comment by Leanna — September 22, 2007 @ 12:28 am

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