Danielle Polanco
Danielle Polanco | |
|---|---|
Polanco at the premiere of Step Up 2: The Streets, 2008 | |
| Born | |
| Occupations | Actress, choreographer, dancer, star |
| Years active | 2003–present |
Danielle Polanco is an American dancer, choreographer, and actress. She influenced pop stars to wear heels while dancing.[1][2]
Polanco has choreographed for Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Beyoncé Knowles.[3][4] She has also appeared as a dancer in numerous music videos for artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, Amerie, Janet Jackson, Usher, Bruno Mars, and Kat DeLuna.[5][1][6]
Career
She claims to be a dancer who came up during the early 2000s ballroom era.[7] She is a voguer under the House of Ninja.[8]
She is also known for being the leading lady in Omarion's music video "Touch" and for starring in the 2008 movie Step Up 2: The Streets, in which she portrayed Missy Serrano.[3]
She appeared in the Broadway revival of West Side Story as one of the Shark girls, Consuela.[9] In 2018, she also was the choreographer in Pose on FX. She worked extensively with the cast and crew to represent ballroom for the LGBTQ community.[7]
In 2019, she choreographed a show for Agent Provocateur, which Forbes has called her "the ultra-talented."[10]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Idlewild | Swop Dancer | |
| 2008 | Step Up 2: The Streets | Missy | |
| 2010 | Step Up 3D | Missy | |
| 2015 | The Wiz Live! | Ensemble |
Videography
- Tony Touch's "Dimelo" — dancer
- Ment 2B's "Wassup Wassup" — dancer
- MVP's "Roc Ya Body (Mic Check 1, 2)" (2003) — dancer
- Widelife feat. Simone Denny's "All Things (Queer Eye Theme)" (2003) — dancer
- Young Gunz's "Friday Night" (2004) — dancer
- Amerie's "1 Thing" (2005) — dancer
- Amerie's "Touch" (2005) — dancer
- Omarion's "Touch" (2005) — dancer
- Omarion's "I'm Tryna" (2005) — appearance
- Beyoncé's "Check On It" (2005) — dancer
- Ricky Martin's "Drop It On Me" (2005) — dancer
- LL Cool J featuring Jennifer Lopez's "Control Myself" (2006) — dancer
- Janet Jackson featuring Khia's "So Excited" (2006) — dancer and choreographer
- Beyoncé's "Get Me Bodied" (2007) — dancer and choreographer
- Beyoncé's "Suga Mama" (2007) — dancer and choreographer
- Beyoncé's "Freakum Dress" (2007) — dancer
- Nelly's "Wadsyaname" (2007) — dancer
- Kat DeLuna's "Whine Up" (2007) — dancer
- Usher featuring Young Jeezy's "Love In This Club" (2008) — dancer
- Chris Brown's "Forever" (2008) — dancer
- Ne-Yo's "Miss Independent" (2008) — dancer
- Jennifer Lopez's "Fresh Out the Oven" — choreographer
- Jennifer Lopez's "Good Hit" (Viral Video) (2011) — dancer and choreographer
- Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" (2011) — dancer
- Lady Gaga's "Judas" (2011) — dancer
- Beyoncé's "Run The World (Girls)" (2011) — dancer and choreographer
- Beyoncé's "Countdown" (2011) — dancer and choreographer
- Daddy Yankee's "Limbo" (2012) — dancer and choreographer
- Kelly Rowland's "Ice" (2012) — dancer
- Fergie's "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)" (2013) — dancer
- Beyoncé's "Partition" (2013) — choreographer
- Jennifer Lopez's "Same Girl" (2014) — dancer
- Jennifer Lopez's "I Luh Ya Papi" (2014) — dancer
- Jolin Tsai's "I'm Not Yours" (2014) — choreographer
- Bruno Mars' "Finesse" (2018) — dancer
- Janet Jackson featuring Daddy Yankee "Made For Now" (2018) — dancer and choreographer
- Jason Derulo Lay Zhang featuring NCT 127 "Let's Shut Up and Dance" (2019) — choreographer
- Addison Rae "Aquamarine" (2024) — choreographer
- Karol G "Papasito" (2025) — choreographer
References
- ^ a b "How Heels Dance Became a Wildly Popular—and Welcoming—Style". Dance Magazine. February 13, 2023.
- ^ Manno, Olivia (2016). "Stilettos, Sweat and Tears (OF LAUGHTER)". Dance Spirit.
- ^ a b "Dancing in 'Streets' is fine, but story ...". Chicago Sun-Times. February 14, 2008. p. 33.
...the supporting cast of young dancers is especially strong, with fine work from Danielle Polanco as Andie's friend
- ^ Rasminsky, Abigail (2009). "Who's That Girl?". Dance Spirit.
- ^ "J.Lo Enlists Help of Beyonce's Team for New Video". Essence. October 29, 2020.
- ^ "Karol G Invites Fans to Go Behind the Scenes of Her 'Papasito' Video". Rolling Stone. July 7, 2025.
- ^ a b "Ballroom's time to shine: 'Pose' choreographers Leiomy Maldonado and Danielle Polanco on bringing the ball to life". Los Angeles Times. July 21, 2018.
- ^ "Danielle Polanco: From screen to the Broadway revival of West Side Story". Dance Spirit Magazine. Archived from the original on April 30, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
She eventually became a member of the House of Ninja.
- ^ "Broadway-Bound West Side Story Revival Launches at DC's National Dec. 15". Playbill. Archived from the original on October 30, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
- ^ "Agent Provocateur Offer Dance And Desire For Their New Lingerie Campaign". Forbes. September 10, 2019.