How did the opportunity to work on Imaginarium come about?
I had worked with some of the same people in production on a different project prior.
What was it like learning about Terry Gilliam's vision and what did you bring to that?
Terry mentioned briefly to me what he imagined for both of the separate tango sequences and the dancing cops sequence. From there I tried to interpret what he wanted and combine it with my dance experience and what I saw...The Tom Waits sequence was what he envisioned the first version I created . I had to change one little part of the dancing cops sequence and add something he wanted just before shooting and that was just fine...he has great ideas obviously and we added it quickly and with no problems. We were trying to read each other’s minds and in the end the combination of our thoughts turned out . It is always more nerve wracking for me to create choreography for a director who is also the writer...which I have done a few times now...Writers know what they envisioned when they wrote it as they created that particular scene in their mind where in a director who didn’t write the script has no preconceived notions. Terry gave me a lot of freedom and didn’t ask to see any final choreography until right before shooting which was brave of him lol! It was right then on the spot that we added or changed a couple of tiny things just before shooting.
Did you ever get to meet with Heath Ledger about choreography or no?
The dancing cops and Tom Waits devil tango with Valentina were rehearsed by all of the actors prior to shooting. In regards to the sad story of Heath passing away before finishing shooting in Vancouver...I created the choreography for Heath but did not get the chance to meet him as he passed the week he was to arrive in Vancouver.
How long did you work with Johnny Depp and what did you teach him? Was he skilled in tango at all prior to this? Was the choreography always tango?
When Johnny was announced to fill in as one of the “Tony’s” he had to do it quickly on his days off from shooting another project elsewhere. He flew in and shot his tango scene in the same day. The tango created for Heath completely changed . Originally I didn’t know this tango took place on a tiny lily pad in the sky...so I had them traveling all over the place. It was hysterical when I found out they were on a lily pad in the sky. The whole thing changed a few times... Once to make it way easier and standing on the spot... then again once we found out Johnny was going to learn it 20 minutes before shooting. I taught the actress her part of the tango with Johnny by doing Johnny’s part for her prior to him arriving. My assistant ended up teaching it to him on the spot. The sequences for the dancing cops and Tom Waits were longer more choreographed pieces that were rehearsed. The Tony tango was short/sweet and easy and very organic. It suited the script that it wasn’t really rehearsed by Johnny as the actress dancing with Johnny was supposed to be trying to seduce by leading him in a dance (within the script). It was on the spot, organic and short and sweet. None of the actors had any dance experience but when teaching a tango type of routine to actors you don’t do any of the fancy footwork it takes years to learn and hone. The feet stay super simple and you try to do upper body moves that have relevance to the script and what is going on in the story. I take the moves that look cool but aren’t hard to do body wise and training wise and will fit in with what the actor is trying to achieve in the scene with the other actor.
What was your favorite part about working on Imaginarium?
My favorite part about working on Imaginarium was in the studio teaching the dancing cops. It was so fun and hilarious working with these guys. They are playing cops who are in drag on the bottom half. They are tough guys on top in their cop uniforms with clubs but on the bottom they are in little skirts, fishnets and stiletto heels. It is hard to take oneself seriously both as a teacher and performer when teaching a funny funny dance like this. I was so proud of the actors...they weren’t dancers and they put so much effort into getting it right. It was super fun and hilarious for all of us. My favorite type of choreography and job is the silly and fun musical theatre with no rules. For me..the cheesier and weirder...the more at home I am! The more fun I can have..the more I take it and run...
What is Stan Helsing about and how involved were you in the film?
Stan Helsing is a hilarious spoof comedy coming out around Halloween. Again...this was super fun and crazy. It was almost extremely weird to say the least to be almost 7 months pregnant teaching a bunch of huge stuntmen/actors playing monsters a funny but naughty naughty YMCA type homo erotic dance. Can you picture that? Little me..with a huge belly ...leading guys 7 feet tall..being strict and making them do it over and over and over and over...bless the director Bo for still hiring me this pregnant..that was really cool of him...I also taught the lead actors a couple of funny simple dances in other parts of the script. That was fun too..We all have a lot of fun when it’s comedy. You can’t care what people think when it’s silly. Go big or go home. There were a lot of laughs in production meetings when Bo the writer/director explained the scenes to me. A few jaws dropped.
How long was choreography for Center Stage 2 and was everyone attached already professional dancers? What was your favorite number for Center Stage 2?
In Center Stage –Turn It Up..I was hired to choreograph around 17 clips or scenes for the ballet and finale portion of the Script. All of the actors are professional dancers. My favorite scene was my baby..the finale...which was more contemporary jazzy as compared to classical ballet in the class scenes.
When did you know that you wanted to be a professional choreographer?
I kind of always knew subconsciously as a kid I wanted to be the creator of dance numbers. I would put shows and dance numbers together in elementary school and boss everyone around...tell them where they were standing...I was totally organized and at the time didn’t know what I was doing was choreographing. After training as a dancer and dancing professionally I eventually had the urge to try choreographing myself so I started teaching dance.
What is the hardest and easiest style of dance to teach people?
The hardest aspect of teaching dance to some people is teaching style and feeling. Someone may have all of the moves memorized but it is hard to get someone to change their style of selling a piece...especially on time constraints...it is also hard to teach proper dance technique under time constraints...which is why it is a fun challenge coming up with choreography that is effective for non dancing actors. Some movies and TV shows give you the time you ask for to spend with the actors and some simply cannot due to schedule conflicts and budget...this is where a choreographer has to be really organized with what moves the actors can sell effectively that are not too hard.
If you weren't dancing, what would you be doing?
If I weren’t choreographing I have 2 answers as to what I’d be doing. If I were given the opportunity to do whatever I want career wise ...I would love to interview people on a fun comedic talk show. I love that kind of thing...What do I actually do when I’m not choreographing?...I also have my own entertainment agency Vancouver Corporate Entertainment & Staffing Agency and I book dance shows/ entertainers / and staff for events and I also am raising 2 boys who are 9 months and 3 years old.
What dancing shows on TV do you watch?
When I have time away from my busy life I do enjoy watching So You Think You Can Dance; Dancing with The Stars; and America’s Best Dance Crew.
For more on Odessa Munroe, visit her website.
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