How old were you when the song “Mickey” hit the airwaves in 1981? It was one of the most well-received early MTV videos. I was 12 and was mimicking the dance moves from the seminal video. Basil developed, directed and choreographed the ubiquitous cheerleader video . Did you know “Mickey” was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the groundbreaking singles of the 1980s?
Fast forward 38 years later and met this amazing artist at The Hollywood Show …. rockin’ a brown hat and jacket and looking hip and wonderful. At 75, Basil just finished a high profile project, a choreography from Quentin Tarantino’s latest film entitled “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
starring Leonardo Di Caprio and Brad Pitt.
I asked Basil about this exciting project and she enthusiastically said, “I was really hired to keep it very vintage. It takes place in 1960 and we have to make sure at party scenes or any of the actors doing movement are not doing hiphop. It’s the late ’60s …they gotta do “the pony” or “the skate”.
There’s no stopping this winning performer also known as street dance historian. Curious what is brewing in Toni Basil’s dance world and career? Be sure to follow her on Instagram @officialtonibasil and YouTube.
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