Mark Samuels (born in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian choreographer, dancer and movement coach. As a professional dancer, he is known for performing with major recording artists such as Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliot, Mario, Maestro Fresh Wes, Jully Black and Shawn Desman. As a choreographer, Mark is best known for his contributions in Disneys Descendants, A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Magicians, An American Girl: Isabelle Dances Into the Spotlight, Honey Girls, Latin Pop boy band CNCO and Juno Award winner, Savannah Ré.[1]

Mark Samuels
Born
Toronto, Ontario
NationalityCanada
Occupation(s)Choreographer, dancer
Websitewww.marksamuelsofficial.com

Early life

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Mark was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Both his parents are of Indo-Jamaican descent. They moved from Kempshill, Jamaica to Toronto in 1973 to start a family. He has two siblings, Wayne Samuels and Jeff Samuels. Mark grew up in Jane and Finch, an area known as one of the roughest neighbourhoods in Canada. At 13 years old, Mark started his dance journey in middle school at a talent show, performing an impersonation of Kid ’N Play. In 1995, Mark joined Toronto’s biggest and most recognizable dance troupe, Do Dat. He was hired to dance for many successful Canadian recording artists such as Maestro Fresh Wes, Jully Black, Glen Lewis, 2 Rude, B4-4, Shawn Desman, Deborah Cox and many more. He also performed on Canada’s most notable award shows, The Juno Awards and the Much Music Video Awards (MMVAs).

In 1999, he left Canada to pursue a dance career in the US. Mark was one of the first commercial hip hop dancers from Canada to ever work in the United States. He was fortunate enough to dance for major recording artists such as Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, Mario, Rihanna, Kelis, Olivia, Nivea and others. In 2009, Mark returned back to Canada where he met fellow choreographer Paul Becker, who was instrumental in shifting Mark’s career from dancer to choreographer.[2]

Career

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In 2014, Mark was introduced to the world of musical theatre in TV & Film, landing his first major choreography role on the TV show Murdoch Mysteries (Season 7, Episode 10). Since 2015, Mark has been fully immersed in the Vancouver film scene. He was introduced to Kenny Ortega, who brought him on as the main hip hop choreographer for Disney’s Descendants, starring Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, Mitchell Hope, Cameron Boyce and Booboo Stewart.[3] It was noted as one of the most-watched original movies on cable television. It also won a DGA, WGA and Primetime Emmy Award. In 2018, Mark helped choreograph three musical numbers on The Magicians - (Season 3 Episode 9, “All That Josh”). In 2017, he was the associate choreographer for A Series of Unfortunate Events, starring Neil Patrick Harris.[3]

In 2021, Mark was the assistant choreographer on A Week Away, a Christian-based musical film. Later that year, he worked as the associate choreographer on Honey Girls, starring recording artist Ashanti. In 2022, Mark was the choreographer on the Hallmark movie, Just One Kiss.[4] In addition to TV & Film, Mark provides movement coaching and performance direction for various recording artists. In 2010, he choreographed and worked directly with Shawn Desman for his music video, Money Shot. He worked again with Shawn in 2023 as a movement coach on the music video Love Me With The Lights On.[5]

In 2022, Mark worked alongside Juno Award winner, Savannah Ré for her debut headlining show. He was the sole choreographer for Drake's OVO North Stars show, working with R&B group In Essence and solo recording artist, Dru Grange.[6] Later that year, he also worked on performance direction with Leila Dey, who opened for Juno Award winner, Jessie Reyez on her headlining tour, Yessie.[7]

Creative Direction

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Mark was one of two creative directors on the CNCO World Tour. He was responsible for creating the visual concepts for the show. He also co-choreographed and staged the group. He coordinated with lighting, special effects and set design teams to bring key moments to life. He also was instrumental in producing music for the infamous breakdown dance sections that CNCO performed on The Latin Billboard Awards.[3]

Awards

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  • 2022 - Leo Award winner for Honey Girls [8][9]
  • 2010 - Much Music Video Of The Year Shawn Desman - Night Like This

Work (choreography and movement, performance direction)

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TV/Film (Choreographer/Associate Choreographer)

Year TV/Film Network Director
2008 Pop It - Season 1 & 2 TVO Paul Hart
2011 Ils Dansent CBC
2014 Dr Cabbie E-One Entertainment Jean Francois Pouliot
2014 American Girl - Isabelle Dances Into The Spotlight NBC Debra Martin Chase
2014 Rise ABC Spark
2014 Murdoch Mysteries - Season 7, Episode 10 CBC Harvey Crossland
2016 Death Of A Vegas Showgirl Lifetime Penelope Buitenhuis
2016 Taxi 22
2017 Hot Street Xiaomin Zhang
2017 A Series of Unfortunate Events - Season 1 - 3 Netflix Barry Sonnenfeld
2022 Just One Kiss W Network Jeff Beesley
2022 Honor Society Netflix Oran Zegman
2022 Something Here T.K. McKamy
2022 Scaredy Cats - Season 1, Episode 5 Netflix Anna McRoberts

TV/Film (Assistant Choreographer/Choreography Team)

Year TV/Film Network Director
2015 The Descendants Disney Kenny Ortega
2018 Overboard Netflix Rob Greenberg
2019 Tallboyz - Season 1, Episode 1 CBC Bruce McCulloch
2020 Julie & The Phantoms Netflix Kenny Ortega
2020 Motherland: Fort Salem - Season 1, Episode 4 Freeform Steven Adelson
2021 A Week Away Netflix Roman White
2021 Honey Girls Apple TV Trey Fanjoy
2022 Ivy & Bean: Doomed To Dance Netflix Elissa Down

Music Videos (Choreographer)

Year Artist Title Director
2010 Shawn Desman “Money Shot" Randall "RT!" Thorne
2011 Lauren Elle “Accessories” Director X
2011 Guinevere “Crazy Crazy” Anton Josef
2012 Morgan Page feat Tegan & Sara “Body Work” Lisa Mann
2013 Classified “Pay Day” Harvey Glazer
2013 Mandia Nantsios “One Last Time” David Mewa
2014 Kira Isabelle “Shake It (If You Got It)” The Young Astronauts
2014 Serani “In My Arms” David Mewa
2014 Mandia Nantsios “Secret” David Mewa
2014 Alyssa Reid “Satisfaction Guaranteed” Marc Andre Debruyne
2014 J-Diggz “Just Push It”
2015 Flosstradamus feat Lil Jon “Prison Riot” The Young Astronauts
2017 Belly “Mumble Rap” (Assistant Choreographer) Karena Evans
2018 CNCO “Se Vuelve Loca” David Rousseau
2019 FYI feat Busta Rhymes “Bigger Better Faster” Harvey Glazer
2019 Buju Banton “Trust” Kieran Khan
2019 Reptile feat. Jadakiss “YO” Danny Feighery
2021 Charmaine “BBM” Jacqueline Ashton
2021 Dru Grange “Can’t Get Enough” Charlton Visuals
2023 Savannah Re feat Mez “Bands” Nate Burland
2023 Shawn Desman “Love Me With The Lights On” (Assistant Choreographer) Dan LeMoyne
2024 Rachelle Show “Better Off Alone” Spoken By T

Commercials/Brands (Choreographer/Principal Dancer)

Year Title/Artist Brand Director
2004 “I-Run” Nike
2008 So You Think You Can Dance Canada
2012 Mini Pop Kids K-Tel Records
2016 “Cool Robot - “Never Give Up” Oxford Books Drake Doremus
2019 “Be Bold, Be Great” Bank Of Montreal Lisa Mann
2021 “Be The Cheer” Cheerios Shaun Collings

Live Performances/Tours (Choreographer)

Year Artist/Event Show/Tour Label/Network
2009 Danny Fernandes Promo Tour CP Records
2012 Dru Grange Summerfest Flow 93.5 FM
2012 Guinevere Promo Tour
2012 Kim Davis Promo Shows
2015 Closing Ceremony Pan Am CC/Para Pan Am Games CBC Sports
2015 Serena Ryder Pan Am CC/Para Pan Am Games CBC Sports
2015 World Thrombosis Day
2017 CNCO Mas Alla Tour Sony Music Latin
2017 Dru Grange Breakfast Television City TV
2017 Night At The Movies Dancing With The Stars ABC
2022 In Essence OVO North Stars
2022 Dru Grange OVO North Stars
2022 Charmaine Manifesto Sony BMG
2023 Leila Dey Yessie Tour
2024 Dru Grange Breakfast Television City TV
2024 Dru Grange Soul Nostalgia Residency

Award Shows (Choreographer/Principal Dancer)

2000 The Source Hip Hop Music Awards Mary J Blige BET
2003 Video Game Awards Kelis Spike TV
2006 MuchMusic Video Awards Nelly Furtado feat Timbaland MuchMusic
2011 MuchMusic Video Awards Shawn Desman MuchMusic
2011 Juno Awards Shawn Desman & Danny Fernandez CBC
2013 Juno Awards The Barenaked Ladies CBC
2018 Latin American Music Awards CNCO (Co-Choreographer) Telemundo
2022 The Legacy Awards Various Artists (Assistant Choreographer) CBC

Music Videos (Principal Dancer)

Year Artist Title Director
1999 Mariah Carey feat Da Brat & Missy Elliott “Heartbreaker” Remix Hype Williams
2000 Wyclef Jean feat The Rock “It Doesn’t Matter" Director X
2001 Mario “Just A Friend 2000” Diane Martel
2001 Olivia “Are U Capable" J Records
2001 Missy Elliott “Get Ur Freak On" Dave Myers
2009 Rihanna “Pon De Replay" Director X
2009 Jully Black “Sweat Off Your Brow" Lakeshore Records
2010 Shawn Desman “Night Like This" Randall "RT!" Thorne
2010 Naturi Naughton “H8TRZ”
2010 Shawn Desman “Shiver” Randall "RT!" Thorne
2011 Keshia Chante “Shooting Star” Marc Andre Debruyne
2012 Victoria Duffield “Break My Heart” Alon Isocianu
2012 Victoria Duffield feat Cody Simpson “They Don’t Know About Us” Randall "RT!" Thorne
2012 Shawn Desman “Nobody Does It Like You" Randall "RT!" Thorne
2012 Victoria Duffield “Feel” Alon Isocianu
2013 Shawn Desman “Too Young Too Care” Marc Andre Debruyne

References

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  1. ^ Elijah Sandiford,"U.S. rapper suing company behind Fortnite". cbc.ca. 13 December 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Mark Samuels". harthouse.ca. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Michael D. Reid,"Victoria dance studio alumnus gives back with master class, auditions". timescolonist.com. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  4. ^ Sushmita Sen,"Just One Kiss full cast list: Krysta Rodriguez, Santino Fontana and others in Hallmark's romance drama". sportskeeda.com. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Black Futures AfroFuturism Dance Workshop". harthouse.ca. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  6. ^ ""Come Into The 6IX, We Will Fix Yuh!"". blog.remax.ca. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  7. ^ Andrew Philips,"Local nonprofit dancing towards charitable status with fundraiser". midlandtoday.ca. 21 January 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  8. ^ Victoria Ahearn,"Portraits From a Fire among big Leo Award winners". playbackonline.ca. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  9. ^ "2022 Nominees & Winners by Name". leoawards.com. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
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