Galen Hooks

Galen Hooks is an L.A. native who has been in the entertainment industry for over two decades. With a unique artistic approach to dance and choreography, she’s created a style that is instantly recognizable and entirely individual. Her versatility and experience have rendered her one of the most respected and sought after performers of her generation.

Hooks is the mastermind behind scores of blockbuster music videos. She’s worked with over 50 artists, including Janet Jackson, Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, Usher, Chris Brown, The Jonas Brothers, The Pussycat Dolls, Miley Cyrus, Rhianna, and Ne-Yo, just to name a few. Her mesmerizing YouTube tutorials have become a viral sensation with over 300 million views across social media. 

She’s modeled extensively for Nike‘s Dance and Sport Culture lines, including a two-page ad in Vogue. Hooks’ eye for crisp detail and storytelling that she breathes into every project, including her own self-produced, self-written, and self-directed short films. 

You can check out her latest projects on Creatively here. 

What is the first creative project you remember?

I started dancing and gymnastics when I was three, so I remember being in classes and moving to music at that age. Even though I was following a teacher, the creativity of interpreting music was so engaging—even at that age.

Describe your aesthetic/approach to dance in three words.

Personal, musical, storytelling.

What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on?

So many! Touring with Snoop, dancing at the Super Bowl with Janet Jackson & Justin Timberlake, working on the entire Libra Scale album with Ne-Yo, three seasons of a show called THE LXD: Legion of Extraordinary Dancers on Hulu (with live performances at TED Talks, The Oscars, The Guggenheim Museum and so much more), every self-produced project I’ve done (“Campfire Vaudeville,” “There Once Was a Woman,” “Wait For Me,” “Tuesday,” all of which are on YouTube!).

What’s one creative project that taught you something fundamental about yourself?

The 20-minute original musical I wrote, produced, directed, wrote original music for, composed, choreographed, styled, and edited, “There Once Was a Woman.” I had never written a script, never directed dialogue, never hired a crew that big; there were so many “firsts.” We shot about three days of material in about 10 hours. It was overly ambitious and I didn’t get key footage I needed.

I sat on the footage for months completely depressed. But I ended up editing the film (having never edited dialogue/acting scenes before) and I am so incredibly proud to have overcome the emotional hurdle (major depression) and creative hurdle (missing key footage) to create a film that I am extremely, extremely proud of.

It taught me the fundamental ability of problem-solving and solidified my love for filmmaking.

Do you think creativity is something you’re born with or something you’re taught?

Creativity doesn’t only relate to the arts—there is creativity in running a business, in marketing, even in planning what to make your kids for lunch. In any case, creativity has so much to do with being inventive, and being inventive is about thinking outside the box, which can absolutely be taught.

What’s the last dream you had?

It was actually incredibly sad! I dreamt my mom (who in real life is alive, in her 70’s, and is essentially my best friend), was no longer able to drive and was losing her motor skills. I’m hyper-aware of the mortality of my parents, family, husband, and friends—and I suppose it crept up in that dream! I’m sure 2020 was a great reminder for everyone reading this to cherish the people in your life, but in case you need it, consider this a reminder!

One hundred years from now, what do you hope people write about your work?

100 years is quite a ways into the future! To be honest, I’ve always thought it presumptuous to assume that anybody thinks/writes/talks about my work now, or that they will in the future.

If I had to hope for or pick one thing I’d like people to write about my work, it would be that I shared the joy of dance with people of all levels. That’s why I developed The Galen Hooks Method. We’ve had everyone from producers, recording artists, architects, animators, scientists, stylists. (For some, it was their first dance experience ever, so there is no level of beginner that is too inexperienced). The style of my choreography, the elements of storytelling, song choice, musicality, experimentation, acting, etc., have become a new way of approaching dance entirely, and because I plan to solidify this approach, I hope that in 100 years it’s something that can be written about in that context.

Follow @GalenHooks on Creatively.

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