By Taylor Bembery Twitter: @taylorbembery
Celebrity choreographer, Dave Scott, danced his way from the streets of Compton to the big and small screen. Scott who taught himself how to dance by watching music videos, never gave up on his dreams despite his surroundings. From long years of struggles, he was determined to exceed in a somewhat non-traditional career path of dance. He has worked and created moves for some of the most iconic dance movies such as Step Up, You Got Served, and Stomp The Yard. However, his most recent and steady involvement with hit Fox television show, So You Think You Can Dance, has much of his attention these days. As Scott is gearing to open up his own dance school in France, he was able to talk about his journey, greek step culture, Debbie Allen, and more!
How were you able to focus on becoming a dancer in Compton?
I always had a different mindset on life. There were things that I wanted to do regardless of what was going on around me through out the hood. Dance was fun, it was a hobby. I would get my homeboy from down the street put a crew together and just break dance off some cardboard. It just started off as a hobby because it was fun and I taught myself how to dance by watching music videos.
Who has been your biggest inspiration to reach your goals?
My Granny; she’s not a dancer. She supported whatever I wanted to do. Everything didn’t always make her smile because there were rough patches in my career. However, going into the industry and just starting to really meet people, a big influence on me was Ms. Debbie Allen. She automatically made me feel like family from the day I met her. She’s incredible, she’s down to earth, she’s real, she’s the kind of person to tell you: “Get off your a**, you need to be in front of the camera! I know you like doing choreography but I need to see your face on film!” She’s that kind of person and it just drives you. She’s had a huge influence on me. Also, I grew up watching Breakin’, Beat Street, and stuff like that, so having the honor to meet Popin’ Pete and Mr. Wiggles, that blew me away and it inspired me and it inspired my work. Having the opportunity to experience that is much a reward and it keeps me going.
Which choreography opportunity has had the most impact on you?
You take a little piece of everything, with every project. Some make you grow, and some encourages you or discourages you. With all these different trials, you just persevere and I think all of the films has helped me but Stomp The Yard was life changing. We were in Atlanta for four months and experienced the college world, the black college world—actually getting involved where stepping came from. I learned about black greek stepping culture and the rich history of it. It was a lot to get in to and being around the guys we hired to learn about it, we all became family. So I think Stomp The Yard, that hit a nerve after doing You Got Served because Stomp The Yard pushed through the boundaries a little bit. I loved it.
How did you get involved with So You Think You Can Dance and what is your role on the show?
On So You Think You Can Dance, not only am I doing choreography, I am also directing. You think I just have to put up with choreography? No. I have to put together a look book, design outfits, and design clothes. You direct your entire motion through this entire project. You’re directing, as well as choreographing. You have to put all these different things together. So it’s a bigger deal than getting up there and busting some moves. You have two minutes to tell your story on national television and make these kids look good at the same time. It’s a huge process and I got involved with it because they called me and asked me to be a part of it. I’ve been there for like 11 seasons. I just missed the first one because I was filming and doing the choreography for Stomp The Yard.
What type of dance school will you be opening and why did you choose to put it in Paris, France?
I just want to take what I’ve been seeing, what I’ve been learning, what I’ve been watching and put it into a school where people aren’t privileged to that. People overseas and Europe, they look at television. They want to emulate whatever show is out there. What they do is emulate tv shows and movies. They’re copying all the dancers and artists in these different countries because they are trying to get to America. That’s why I am putting a school there, so people can learn the different urban dance and commercial styles, to give them a piece of America.
Being an African-American dancer, what are your views on the hardships that blacks face in the world of Ballet?
It’s more than long overdue for blacks to have recognition in ballet. Misty is not the first, she’s the first of getting acknowledged in that particular school. She’s super incredible and there has been so many incredible people in her stature along the way. I feel the acknowledgment is great, I really do. It’s super great. I think its going to open their eyes because in that world of ballet, they have been eyes wide shut for a very very long time when it comes to recognizing people of color.
What advice can you give to young people that want to pursue a career in dance?
If you’re super passionate about it, do it and never stop. If it’s what you want to do when you wake up in the morning, do it. If it’s what you want to do when your sore and you feel like you want to quit, do it. It’s not easy at all and if it was easy, everybody would be doing it and our checks would be smaller.
Taylor Bembery Biography:
Taylor Bembery is a graduate of Jackson State University from Detroit, Mich. Taylor has had the passion of learning and talking to others about their experiences since she could pick up a pen and pad. She focuses her life around The Seven F’s: Faith, Family, Finances, (her) Future, Fitness, Fashion and Fun.
