We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Myles Thoroughgood a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Myles, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I first discovered my passion for artistic expression during my freshman year of high school. While attending William Penn in Philly I was enrolled in the Communications Magnet Program. The curriculum included semester long classes in art, radio and television production, and dance. My inner city upbringing gave little exposure to these subjects as career possibilities. This creative environment with fellow students, teachers, coaches, and councilors who looked like me and also shared similar values and ideals nurtured the artist inside of me. I have always enjoyed social party dancing but never studied dance formally and I wasn’t excited about learning to do so. In fact, my idea was to be combative and disruptive with the goal of being asked to leave the class. During an improv dance class my teachers lead us in creating solos. I decided to be extra exuberantly wild and tried to command the entire space. The teachers praised my energy and freedom of expressive movement and announced at that moment that I would be doing a solo in the end of semester performance. I was angered, anxious, embarrassed and excited. The day of the show arrived and there I stood onstage alone. Well, not totally alone, I had a prop. A spear I acquired from a trip to the Philadelphia Zoo was also choreographed to be use in the piece. Barely seconds into the dance the spear breaks and I clinched my fist to hold it together. I continued to dance without missing a beat or a step and finished my performance to roaring applause. As I took a bow my heart raced and that was the moment I had found my artistic path.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My professional journey has offered a full spectrum of exploration and learning experiences.

Once the fire of being a performer was lit, I found opportunities to be on stage in a variety of venues.
I learned early that the more challenged I was a dancer the more excited I became to channel that anxiety into energy I could use in my rehearsal process and performances. That energy generated a fearlessness I could use my strength as a performer to compensate for my lack of formal training and my limited technique facilities. Being onstage in front of an audience who are there to be engaged will always feel like the most special time and space.

Being ready for those moments onstage is crucial. Success requires planning and preparation. Developing a committed work ethic and concentration on the creative process helps me to be more knowledgeable and ready to handle the unexpected in my role as a performer and especially when I choreograph or direct.

All creative projects have a team. Every member must have a clear understanding of their purpose and responsibilities. The exchange of ideas and interaction with each other allows creatives to share their frame of references within the scope of the project.
Everyone involved should be enrolled into a singular vision and direction so each collaborator feels their contribution is vital to the success of the project.

As Dance Captain for Waves Dance Company in Philadelphia, I learned from Choreographer Shimon Braun that ” One head can not think of all the ideas that 10 heads can.” Meaning, together we are smarter, stronger and more imaginative than when we are alone. I bring this philosophy to all my endeavors. There is so much to learn from the team around you.
In Waves we would sometimes work in pairs or trios with other dancers to create choreography. These experiences taught me to learn how I move instinctively, how to teach others my movement and how to complete tasks through collaboration.
Choreographer Shimon also said ” I am giving you one pound, please return 5 pounds back to me”. If you are fortunate to have the opportunity to engage with talented people, bring your best self to the creative process by nurturing that “one pound” with your own treasure of abilities and gifts. Your growth in self-awareness and confidence will assist you greatly in your journey as an artist.

My experience in the Arts/Entertainment industry has been very eclectic. My career began as a musical theater cast member where I discovered abilities that would serve as a resource throughout my life. A sense of rhythm and musicality, spatial awareness, a humorous outlook, and a drive to achieve and thrive beyond expectations.

The television production introduction came in Philly as an Evening Magazine dancer. A local show featuring news, people profiles, interviews and music video segments. It was there I discovered how to tell stories in dance through the lens of a camera.
How dance is recorded can change it’s potential impact on the perspective viewers.
Years later I would bring these ideas to my production numbers for the Disney Channel’s New Mickey Mouse Club show.
I was a novice choreographer learning how to construct movement to pop songs for a five camera cable show. What a education it was! I had to be very efficient with the limited time of tv production. Often having just a few hours to create, teach, clean and develop how the numbers could be shot. The team made all the difference. The director, wardrobe supervisor, hair and make-up crew, camera operators, all assisted in making the challenges less challenging.
During my five seasons as the choreographer, the creative team worked together to advance a more modern aesthetic. We pushed the Disney Channel to see beyond their tradition confines for the musical segments of the show. Musical Segment Producer Sarah Elgart, and myself worked together to expand the show’s song selections to include hip-hop rap and rock. The musical production numbers became one of the most popular aspects of the show with fans sending in VHS tapes of themselves replicating the dances. I loved working with the young and exceptionally talented cast and I am so proud of how that experience we shared has reverberated to so many people worldwide.
It was my five years on MMC that cemented my connection to entertainment and dance for young audiences.

Animal Jam was a children’s TV series that was shown on Discovery Kids. The show was produced by The Jim Henson Company, HiT Entertainment and Discovery Kids. Animal Jam encouraged kid viewers to move, dance, or act silly.
During my work on Animal Jam I learn the connection between young people, the important principles of early learning, and how moment and dance are vital to healthy bodies and minds whatever your age. The formulation was simple and perfect. Young children love watching other kids. Kids love animals. Kids love music and movement. Kids love puppets.
Animal Jam had all those ingredients. As choreographer, I was responsible for teaching to on-camera real kids movement from well researched curriculum incorporating synchronized breathing, enhance body awareness, reduce stress, and improve focus and concentration. Working with the incredible puppeteers is was the challenge I embraced and enjoyed the most. I had never created movement, on camera or otherwise for someone who brings something made of materials to life. The show had hand and full body puppetry and the collaborations where wonderfully inventive and became amazing moments for the show. Animal Jam taught me that working with professionals and non-professionals of varying abilities, experiences, or enthusiasm should stifle the creative process. It can in fact open up opportunities to more possibilities.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I have a passion for Dance Arts advocacy. My goal is to create a space for the future of dance to grow as an artform for everyone by connecting communities in expressively powerful, authentically meaningful ways.

If I can have an impact or help creatives through my experience, encouragement or engagement, that would bring me a great deal of happiness. Knowing that my efforts sparked someone’s artistic spirit gives me hope for the future and allows me to give back to the community that has enriched my life in unnumerable ways.

I want to continue to have an impact on future performers having access to opportunities wherever they are.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

There are no such people as non-creatives. Creativity is a skill that is always at your disposal, so don’t dispose of the idea that as humans we are all creative.

I was fortunate that many of the opportunities in my challenging journey came through happenstance. I was open to stepping up and stepping through the doors to see what was there inside of them and inside of myself.
Everyone is unique. You have a unique perspective. Be ready to embrace your gifts then share them in quality ways.

Stay flexible and open to new ideas and the perspective of others.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mytgood
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myles-thoroughgood-42449216/