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 Elliott, 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.Elijah Sandiford,
Early life 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.
Career 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.Michael D. Reid, 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.
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.Sushmita Sen, 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.
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. 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.Andrew Philips,
Creative Direction 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.
Awards 2022 - Leo Award winner for Honey Girls Victoria Ahearn, 2010 - Much Music Video Of The Year Shawn Desman - Night Like This
Work (choreography and movement, performance direction) TV/Film (Choreographer/Associate Choreographer) Year TV/Film Network Director2008Pop It - Season 1 & 2TVOPaul Hart2011Ils Dansent CBC2014Dr CabbieE-One EntertainmentJean Francois Pouliot2014American Girl: Isabelle Dances Into The SpotlightNBCDebra Martin Chase 2014RiseABC Spark2014Murdoch Mysteries - Season 7, Episode 10CBCHarvey Crossland2016Death of a Vegas ShowgirlLifetimePenelope Buitenhuis2016Taxi 222017Hot StreetXiaomin Zhang2017A Series of Unfortunate Events - Season 1 - 3NetflixBarry Sonnenfeld2022Just One KissW NetworkJeff Beesley2022Honor Society NetflixOran Zegman2022Something HereT.K. McKamy 2022Scaredy Cats - Season 1, Episode 5NetflixAnna McRoberts
TV/Film (Assistant Choreographer/Choreography Team) Year TV/Film Network Director2015The DescendantsDisneyKenny Ortega2018OverboardNetflixRob Greenberg2019Tallboyz - Season 1, Episode 1CBCBruce McCulloch2020Julie & The Phantoms NetflixKenny Ortega2020Motherland: Fort Salem - Season 1, Episode 4FreeformSteven Adelson2021A Week AwayNetflixRoman White2021Honey GirlsApple TVTrey Fanjoy2022Ivy & Bean: Doomed To DanceNetflixElissa Down
Music Videos (Choreographer) Year Artist Title Director2010Shawn Desman"Money Shot"Randall "RT!" Thorne2011Lauren Elle"Accessories"Director X2011Guinevere"Crazy Crazy" Anton Josef2012Morgan Page feat. Tegan & Sara"Body Work" Lisa Mann2013Classified"Pay Day" Harvey Glazer2013Mandia Nantsios"One Last Time" David Mewa2014Kira Isabelle"Shake It (If You Got It)" The Young Astronauts2014Serani"In My Arms" David Mewa2014Mandia Nantsios"Secret" David Mewa2014Alyssa Reid"Satisfaction Guaranteed" Marc Andre Debruyne2014J-Diggz"Just Push It" 2015Flosstradamus feat Lil Jon "Prison Riot"The Young Astronauts 2017Belly"Mumble Rap" (Assistant Choreographer)Karena Evans2018CNCO"Se Vuelve Loca"David Rousseau2019FYI feat Busta Rhymes "Bigger Better Faster"Harvey Glazer2019Buju Banton "Trust"Kieran Khan2019Reptile feat. Jadakiss"YO"Danny Feighery2021Charmaine"BBM"Jacqueline Ashton2021Dru Grange"Can't Get Enough"Charlton Visuals2023Savannah Re feat. Mez"Bands" Nate Burland2023Shawn Desman"Love Me With The Lights On" (Assistant Choreographer) Dan LeMoyne2024Rachelle Show"Better Off Alone"Spoken By T
Commercials/Brands (Choreographer/Principal Dancer) Year Title/Artist Brand Director2004"I-Run"Nike2008So You Think You Can Dance Canada 2012Mini Pop Kids K-Tel Records2016"Cool Robot - Never Give Up"Oxford BooksDrake Doremus2019"Be Bold, Be Great"Bank Of Montreal Lisa Mann2021"Be The Cheer"Cheerios Shaun Collings
Live Performances/Tours (Choreographer) Year Artist/Event Show/Tour Label/Network2009Danny FernandesPromo TourCP Records2012Dru Grange Summerfest Flow 93.5 FM2012Guinevere Promo Tour2012Kim Davis Promo Shows2015Closing CeremonyPan Am CC/Para Pan Am Games CBC Sports2015Serena Ryder Pan Am CC/Para Pan Am Games CBC Sports2015World Thrombosis Day2017CNCOMas Alla TourSony Music Latin 2017Dru GrangeBreakfast TelevisionCity TV2017Night At The MoviesDancing With The StarsABC2022In EssenceOVO North Stars2022Dru GrangeOVO North Stars2022CharmaineManifestoSony BMG 2023Leila DeyYessie Tour2024Dru GrangeBreakfast TelevisionCity TV2024 Dru GrangeSoul Nostalgia Residency
Award Shows (Choreographer/Principal Dancer) 2000The Source Hip Hop Music AwardsMary J BligeBET2003Video Game AwardsKelisSpike TV2006MuchMusic Video AwardsNelly Furtado feat. TimbalandMuchMusic2011MuchMusic Video AwardsShawn DesmanMuchMusic 2011Juno AwardsShawn Desman & Danny Fernandez CBC2013Juno AwardsThe Barenaked LadiesCBC2018Latin American Music AwardsCNCO (Co-Choreographer)Telemundo2022The Legacy AwardsVarious Artists (Assistant Choreographer)CBC
Music Videos (Principal Dancer) Year Artist Title Director1999Mariah Carey feat. Da Brat & Missy Elliott"Heartbreaker" RemixHype Williams2000Wyclef Jean feat. The Rock"It Doesn't Matter"Director X2001Mario "Just A Friend 2000"Diane Martel2001Olivia "Are U Capable"J Records2001Missy Elliott"Get Ur Freak On"Dave Myers2009Rihanna"Pon De Replay"Director X2009Jully Black "Sweat Off Your Brow"Lakeshore Records2010Shawn Desman"Night Like This"Randall "RT!" Thorne2010Naturi Naughton"H8TRZ"2010Shawn Desman "Shiver"Randall "RT!" Thorne2011Keshia Chante"Shooting Star"Marc Andre Debruyne2012Victoria Duffield"Break My Heart"Alon Isocianu2012Victoria Duffield feat Cody Simpson"They Don't Know About Us" Randall "RT!" Thorne2012Shawn Desman"Nobody Does It Like You"Randall "RT!" Thorne2012Victoria Duffield"Feel"Alon Isocianu2013Shawn Desman"Too Young Too Care"Marc Andre Debruyne
References
External links Mark Samuels on IMDB