BIO
Jimmy Locust has worked with top entertainment industry stars such as Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul, Quincy Jones and Debbie Allen. He has been featured in iconic music videos and films including Rhythm Nation 1814 and the wedding dance sequence of Coming to America. He has performed at the Grammy Awards, Academy Awards and MTV Video Music Awards. He was one of the original members of the world-renowned Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago company, where he also co-choreographed with Jazz dance legend Gus Giordano. Mr. Locust was one of the head choreographers for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta (opening and closing ceremonies) and head choreographer for the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks Dance Team for four seasons. Locust has choreographed commercials for both international and national companies, including Sankyo in Japan with Nicholas Cage and Rapid Advance in the U.S. He choreographed for the CW Television Network’s The Next with hosts John Rich, Joe Jonas, Nelly and Gloria Estefan. He was nominated for an American Choreography Award in 2001 for his work on the Warner Brothers’ network television show Nikki and received Stage Scene LA’s 2023-2024 Scenies Award for Outstanding Choreography of a large theater revival of The Wizard of Oz. In addition, he has choreographed productions and musicals across the U.S. including Jesus Christ Superstar, Sweet Charity, Legally Blonde, A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Cabaret, Escape to Margaritaville and The Prince of Egypt. He has designed dance curricula for numerous community and private education programs and has been a studio owner and master teacher for the past two decades. He is Artistic Director/Owner of Locust Performing Arts Center in Stamford, Connecticut and the Founder/Director of Harmony Nation, an educational anti-bullying program that performs for schools and youth organizations. He also directs Locust Contemporary Dance Works, a youth company which performs in New York City, as well as Hip Hop's Finest and FOCUS Hip Hop pre-professional groups. In addition, he is an Associate Director of Axam Dance Theatre Experience of Atlanta, Georgia and a summer faculty member for Boca Ballet Theatre in Florida and Gus Giordano Dance School in Chicago. Locust served as an adjudicator and Artist-in-Residence for JCC Maccabi Games Artsfests across the country and has taught master classes for Penn State, Emerson College, University of Arizona, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Hussian College, New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, and Broadway Dance Center. Locust’s multi-faceted lifestyle is chronicled in his series Locust Under 5’. Most recently, he founded The Locust Foundation, a non-profit that provides free and affordable arts education for youth.
