Brian Friedman
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Brian Friedman |
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Brian Alexa Friedman, also known as "B Free" or "Be Free"[citation needed] (born May 28, 1977) is an American choreographer. He also has his own line of BFree shoes and clothes.
Early life
Friedman was born in Scottsdale, Arizona where he spent most of his youth and learned to become a dancer. His mother, Judi, taught dance at a local college, and Friedman says he used to observe from the back of the room trying the steps.[1] While accompanying a friend to Los Angeles who was taking classes, an agent spotted Friedman and signed him on the spot.[1] He left Scottsdale at age 12, and after dropping out of high school, he became a professional dancer at the age of 16. Spending most of his time in LA, he learned under the instruction of Doug Caldwell, Joe Tremaine, Barry Lather and Jackie Sleight. As he grew older, he says he found new mentors in Kenny Ortega, Vince Patterson, and Bill and Jackie Landrum. He also studied with Twyla Tharp. Friedman went on to became a dance teacher like his mother and taught competition classes. Friedman also co-owned the dance studio with his mother, called Dance Source, which closed in 2000 so he could focus full-time on choreography.[1] Friedman resides in Los Angeles and London.
Career
Choreography
Friedman has choreographed for many of the world's most popular musicians and dancers. His credits include Britney Spears' videos "Overprotected", "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", and "Toxic", as well as her Dream Within a Dream tour. Friedman has also worked on 'N Sync's "Pop" (assistant to Wade Robson), Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice", (assistant & Christopher Walken's dance double), Samantha Mumba's "Baby Come on Over" (dancer), Monica's "Just Another Girl", Pink's "Most Girls", Chayanne's "Boom Boom", M2M's "Don't Say You Love Me", Prince's "Betcha by Golly Wow!" (dancer) and the seminal Aphex Twin "Windowlicker" video, directed by Chris Cunningham.
Television
Friedman appeared as a judge on ITV's reality show Grease Is the Word in the United Kingdom, to find a new Sandy and Danny for the West End production of Grease. Shortly after, Friedman was appointed as a new judge on hit UK talent show The X Factor along with Dannii Minogue, replacing former judge Louis Walsh after he left in March 2007. He never took up the post as Walsh returned to the show's judging panel; Friedman's role was changed to "creative director," specializing in choreography.
He has been a judge for the hit Fox series So You Think You Can Dance (including for the season 1 and 2 finale), and choreographed an episode of That '70s Show. Friedman also choreographed for the feature film, National Lampoon's Pledge This!, and a dance routine for the Burlesque group, The Bombshells, featuring Carmen Electra, for a VMA after-party.
Friedman has also made several guest appearances and starred in television shows and films, including Kids Incorporated (1984), Newsies (1992), She's All That (1999), Grown Ups (2000), Bubble Boy (2001), Rock Star (2001), Nikki (2001), Uptown Girls (2003) and You Got Served (2004).
Awards
In 2003 Friedman was nominated for an MTV VMA for Best Choreography for Mýa's "My Love Is Like...Wo" video.