TANISHA SCOTT
Dancing Dreams to Cultural Mastery —A Journey Redefining Entertainment Movement
For Tanisha Scott, what began as a childhood dream of dancing on big stages has evolved into much more. With almost two decades of culture-defining choreography under her belt, Scott has earned a stellar reputation as the "go-to girl" for the most prominent names and projects in the entertainment industry. She works as a choreographer, creative director, and artist development expert.
Since her first choreography credit on Sean Paul’s “Gimme the Light” in 2002, she has built a thriving career creating and orchestrating dance and performance movement for the likes of Paul, Rihanna, Drake, and Cardi B, among others. Scott has also lent her expertise to acts such as Coldplay, Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, The Jonas Brothers, Will Smith, Pharrell, Katy Perry, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Lil Nas X, Jay-Z, J Balvin, Bruno Mars, Wizkid, Dua Lipa, and Jennifer Lopez.
EARLY LIFE AND INFLUENCES —HOW THE JOURNEY BEGAN
Scott’s reverence for music and dance began early in life. She spent hours dancing in the basement while her father spun records as a hobby on weekends. Raised with a special appreciation for reggae dancehall music due to her Jamaican heritage, Scott’s father’s eclectic tastes exposed her to a wide array of genres. Instead of traditional dance training, Scott honed her craft on local basketball courts and in recreation centres.
Without mirrors and structured classes, Scott relied on feeling to explore her body’s natural rhythms, significantly contributing to her unique style. As she grew older, she immersed herself deeper into dance, freestyling and engaging in dance battles at clubs and parties. While attending the University of Windsor, Scott joined the “Do Dat” dance troupe, performing at local clubs, dance competitions, and televised entertainment events. She soon auditioned and landed her first professional gig as a backup dancer for singer Mýa.
EXPANDING HORIZONS: BEYOND THE DANCE INDUSTRY
Scott’s mastery extends beyond the dance industry to film and television, where she has collaborated with esteemed directors including Spike Jonze, Jodie Foster, Noam Murro, Lance Acord, F. Gary Gray, and Jason Moore. From music videos and live stage performances to movies, TV shows, and commercials, Scott continues to leave an indelible mark as a storyteller through artistic expression in movement.
Her film and television credits include roles in films like:
‘Kin,’
‘Rough Night,’
‘Money Monster,’
‘Sisters,’
HBO MAX’s ‘Legendary,’
Hulu’s ‘Utopia Falls,’
Netflix’s:
‘Grand Army,’
‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,’
‘Notorious,’
‘Bride Wars,’ and
‘Bring it On: All or Nothing.’
She has also contributed to national commercials for AXE (Russell Westbrook), GMC (LeBron James/Super Bowl), Pepsi (H.E.R./Super Bowl), Doritos (Lil Nas X/Sam Elliot/Super Bowl), Vogue, Toyota, Coach, Adidas, The Gap, Nike, Bose, Boost Mobile, Aquafina, American Express, Budweiser Select, and Subway.
A RELECTANT CHOREOGRAPHER: STEPPING INTO A NEW ROLE
Making a living and touring the world as a dancer, Scott initially believed she had found her calling. Encouraged by Director X to choreograph Sean Paul’s “Gimme the Light” music video, Scott initially hesitated.
For years, she resisted the title of “choreographer,” insisting she was a dancer at heart. However, stepping out of her comfort zone propelled Scott into a world of new opportunities as she became sought-after for choreography by renowned directors like X, Hype Williams, Chris Robinson, Melina Matsoukas, and Diane Martel.
Coveted for her execution as much as her choreography, Scott has appeared as a featured solo dancer in over 60 music videos, notably alongside Sean Paul and in Drake’s 2015 viral video sensation, “Hotline Bling.”
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LEADING THE INDUSTRY: RECENT ACHEIVEMENTS AND FUTURE ASPIRATIONS
Like culture itself, Scott continues to evolve. She remains not only relevant but at the forefront of the industry, with recent clients including H.E.R., Bryson Tiller, SZA, Khalid, Daniel Caesar, Da Baby, and Juice WRLD. Recognized by Billboard Magazine and Italian Vogue as one of the top 30-under-30 artists in the entertainment industry, Scott has earned multiple MTV and Billboard Music awards and nominations.
Her work has been featured in award-winning videos such as Rihanna’s “We Found Love,” Cardi B.’s “Money,” and Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” – which won the 2012 MTV Video Music Award for “Video of the Year,” the 2019 VMA for “Best Hip Hop Video,” and the 2020 Grammy Award for “Best Music Video,” respectively.
As a special guest, she has made appearances on ‘America’s Next Top Model,’ ‘Bring It,’ ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ ‘America’s Next Best Dance Group,’ HBO Max’s ‘Legendary,’ and as a regular host on MTV’s ‘LIT!’
Tanisha Scott has evolved from a dancer and choreographer to an industry-leading creative director, movement coach, and artist developer. She acts as a conduit of creative expression, channelling the energy and emotional intent of music, lyrics, or scripts to capture the true essence of a moment through physical form.
Her dance has elevated iconic music videos of the 21st century, birthed meme-inspiring movements, and enhanced performances for some of the world’s biggest music and acting celebrities. Looking ahead, Scott aspires to bring her talents to Broadway, aiming to leave a legacy of innovation and storytelling through the universal language of movement and dance.