Ep. 47- Jeff Mortensen
Questions asked or topics discussed:
What was your transition from Shumka and Ukrainian to the more commercial world that you’re now more a part of? (03:05)
Cirque Du Soleil (05:20)
What from your Cirque Du Soleil experience did you really learn and how did that change you? (06:00)
What surprised you about So You Think You Can Dance? (07:45)
When you went back to audition for the third season of So You Think You Can Dance, did it feel different/what was the self-talk in that moment? (11:15)
How do you feel now about your career and your choices, or what you envision for your career? (14:30)
What have you learned from doing your work with the Descendants and what was your official title on that series? (16:30)
As an assistant choreographer, what is your job role? (18:10)
What advice would you give to dancers who may be looking at your career as a template or as inspiration for pursuing this career? (21:40)
What are a couple things that are really successful that you see on the other side of the table and what are some big no’s? (24:20)
What are some of the best things you can do as a dancer on set and what are some of the no’s that you’ve seen dancers do? (26:00)
What has challenged of changed you the most within this dance industry? (28:40)
Jeffrey Mortensen grew up as an artistic gymnast and a Ukrainian dancer in Edmonton, Alberta. At the young age of 19 he joined the famed circus company Cirque Du Soleil as one of the 4 main characters in their Vegas resident show The Beatles LOVE. It was here that ignited a continued passion for storytelling from the approach of movement and choreography. This passion lead rather serendipitously to So You Think You Can Dance. It was here that Jeffrey began to gain the knowledge and ability to translate stage choreography for camera. Making Vancouver and Los Angeles his two major hubs, Jeffrey has been working in leadership and assistant choreographer positions on many major projects. Notable credits include Disney’s Descendants, FOX’s Rocky Horror Picture Show, ABC’s Once Upon a Time, J-Pop super group E-Girls, Disney’s Girl Vs. Monster, Lifetime’s Holiday Spin to name a few.
