Blake Andler McGrath (born November 21, 1983) is a Canadian professional dancer, pop singer, actor, model, and choreographer. He was known for being on the first season of So You Think You Can Dance in 2005, and on the MTV reality dance show DanceLife.BurlingtonPost.com: A & E: Story: Rising dance star to visit He has also developed a solo singing career with a debut album Time to Move in 2010.
On May 27, 2023, McGrath married Taylor Andler who has taken the name of Taylor Andler McGrath.
Early career McGrath was born in Mississauga, Ontario.CTV.ca | Blake Boot Camp He attended Cawthra Park Secondary School, School of the Arts and Applewood Heights Secondary School in Mississauga as well as St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic Secondary School in Hamilton, Ontario.
His early television appearances include: Choices of the Heart: The Margaret Sanger Story (1997) playing Stuart Sanger, and the TV show recreation of Goosebumps book "Stay Out of the Basement", in which he played the brother Casey.
In 2001, McGrath was chosen to perform on Michael Jackson's thirtieth anniversary special. In 2006, he performed alongside Paulina Rubio at the 2004 Latin Grammy Awards. Also in 2006 he has an appearance in the documentary Freestyle (with Brian Friedman). He has appeared in Gap campaigns (with Sarah Jessica Parker), and in advertisements for iPod, JCPenney (which he also choreographed), and Hummer.CTV.ca | Blake McGrath
He has danced with stars such as Madonna, Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue, Janet Jackson, Adam Lambert, Ashanti, Destiny's Child, Katy Perry, Craig David, and Jewel.
In addition to his appearances on television shows, McGrath has also appeared in the films Butterbox Babies, Life With Mikey, Chicago, and Rent. He was also featured as a dancer in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody in the episode Commercial Breaks. He was a waiter, and studied at Tiffany Dance Academy in Hamilton Ontario, Deborah Thomson School of Dance in Brampton, Ontario and Joanne Chapman School of Dance in Brampton, Ontario.
He is owner of VIP Dance Events which tours major cities throughout Canada. Lastly, he appeared on the 9/10/13 episode of Dance Moms as a guest choreographer.
Dancing career In 2005, McGrath participated as a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance, he also never landed in the danger zone. He appeared in the 2007 reality TV show DanceLife produced by Jennifer Lopez. In 2014, he appeared in the Lifetime hit Dance Moms as a guest choreographer for the Candy Apples Dance Center (CADC), the main rival of the Abby Lee Dance Company.
Choreography in So You Think You Can Dance Canada series (2008-2010) He is the lead choreographer for the audition cities and alternating third judge on So You Think You Can Dance Canada. He has had contributions for all three seasons to date of the Canadian series as follows: SeasonWeekDancersStyleMusicSeason 1 (Canada)Week 3Arassay ReyesNico ArchambaultContemporary"Let Me Leave"—Marc BroussardWeek 4Kaitlyn FitzgeraldIzaak SmithJazz Funk"Breakin' Dishes"—RihannaWeek 5Top 12Contemporary"I Surrender"—Celine DionWeek 7Lisa AugusteNico ArchambaultJazz Funk"When I Grow Up"—The Pussycat DollsWeek 8Lisa AugusteMiles FaberContemporary"The Face"—RyanDanSeason 2 (Canada)Week 2Amy GardnerVincent DesjardinsContemporary"When You Say My Name"—Mario SpinettiWeek 3Kim GingrasEmanuel SandhuJazz Funk"Love Sex Magic"—Ciara feat Justin TimberlakeWeek 4Top 14Jazz Funk"LoveGame"—Lady GagaWeek 5Jayme Rae DaileyDaniel DoryContemporary"It Must Have Been Love"—Kari KimmelWeek 8Jayme Rae DaileyEmanuel SandhuJazz Funk"I Gotta Feeling"—The Black Eyed PeasSeason 3 (Canada)Week 2Kloé SchultzJonathan ArsenaultJazz"California Gurls"—Katy Perry feat Snoop DoggWeek 4Nathalie HeathMackenzie GreenContemporary"After Afterall"—William FitzsimmonsWeek 5Nathalie HeathJonathan ArsenaultJazz"Teenage Dream"—Katy PerryWeek 7Janick ArseneauJeff MortensenJazz Funk"Come On Girl"—Taio Cruz feat Luciana Caporoso
Musical career Blake started pursuing a music career and released his first single "The Night (Only Place To Go)" on April 27, 2010, on MuchMusic. He presented an award with Girlicious at the 2010 MuchMusic Video Awards on June 20, 2010. His follow-up single was Relax on August 3, 2010, which also won an MMVA award. On November 2, 2010, he released his first studio album Time to Move. It peaked at 39 on the Canadian Album charts. It was later released March 14, 2011, but failed to chart. He released his second studio album entitled "Love Revolution" on September 30, 2013. Blake's EP I am Blake McGrath was released in 2017 with the lead singles 'Love Myself' and 'Harder Than The First Time'. Blake's third studio album 'INNERvention' was released on September 6, 2019, with the lead singles 'Dive in the Water', 'Innervention' and 'Breakthrough'. The album debuted in the top 20 the first week of sales on the Billboard Christian/Gospel album chart.
Personal life As of 2019, McGrath lives in Los Angeles, California.
McGrath acknowledged he was gay in a 2009 interview with the Canadian gay magazine fab. "I've been attracted to men and attracted to women... My feelings change all the time. One day I can feel like I'm gay, another day like I'm straight. But I'm not just one or the other, I'm Blake McGrath and I'm attracted to somebody on the inside."
Discography
Studio albums Year Album details PeakCANUS 2010Time to Move Release Date: November 2, 2010 Label: Interscope Format: CD, digital download 39 - 2013Love Revolution Release Date: September 30, 2013 Label: Interscope Format: CD, digital download - - 2019Innervention Release Year: September 6, 2019 Distributor: Starblazius Records Format: CD, digital -19 2021Wild Love Release Date: January 15, 2021 Distributor: Starblazius Records Format: CD, digital - -
Extended plays Year Album details PeakCANUS 2017Vintage Tomorrow Release Date: June 9, 2017 Label: Blake McGrath Format: CD, digital download - - 2017I Am Blake McGrath Release Date: December 6, 2017 Label: Starblazius Records Format: CD, digital download - -
Singles "The Night (Only Place to Go)" (2010) "Relax" (2010) "Stage Fright" (2011) "Love Sick" (2011) "Burn the Floor" (2011)
Tours Stage Fright Tour (2011) First tour for Blake McGrath's debut studio album "Time To Move"
Filmography 1993: Life with Mikey as an acrobat 1995: Butterbox Babies as Simon (age 7/8) 1995: Choices of the Heart: The Margaret Sanger Story as Stuart Sanger (TV movie) 1996: Goosebumps as Casey Brewer (in 2 episodes in TV series) 2002: Chicago as a male dancer 2004: Britney Spears Live from Miami as a dancer (TV movie) 2005: Rent as dancer (uncredited) 2007: Dancelife as himself 2013: Dance Moms as himself
References
External links McGrath's Official Twitter Page