July 03, 2015
As audiences throw dollar bills at a movie screens across the country this weekend, discerning viewers of "Magic Mike XXL" may spot dancer Luke Broadlick in the club owned by Rome, Jada Pinkett Smith's character. But Broadlick isn't just a dancer.
Sure, he's danced with Britney Spears, Justin Bieber and Jason Derulo on tour, appeared in "Step Up 3D" and performed at The Academy Awards, American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, MTV Movie and Video Music Awards and in Katy Perry's 2015 Super Bowl performance. (No, he was not Left Shark).
But Broadlick was also the assistant choreographer on "Magic Mike" and the associate choreographer for "Magic Mike XXL." Below, Broadlick discusses what it was like on set, getting along with the cast and how the experience changed him.
Why did you decide to enter professional dancing and choreography?
To be honest, I fell into dancing. I drove my friend to an audition in 2009 for Britney Spears [for her "Circus" world tour] and he told me to audition. Even if I didn't get the job, at least it was a type of dance class. Sure enough, I booked the job and just took off into the dance world.
As an assistant and associate choreographer for the “Magic Mike” films, what role did you play? Where you teaching the dances, creating the dances...?
You can almost literally say that I play them all. I helped with choreography, ideas and moves for each character or scene with Alison Faulk, the lead choreographer, and Teresa Espinosa, the other assistant choreographer. I then taught the actors through my perspective. I knew every dance from top to bottom and would then showcase them for everyone...and I mean everyone! It was a great acting lesson for me to be each guy for their scene.
How did you prepare for working on “Magic Mike” and “Magic Mike XXL”? Did you have to research male entertainers to create the choreography?
I never went to see a show, but there were some interesting YouTube searches made for the second film. A lot of the choreography was created by the team, Alison and Teresa, and then I would freestyle and give structure to each one. Chan [Channing Tatum] would throw in a bunch of crazy ideas and we basically all just had to go for it. You have to commit to create something great.
Was there ever any awkwardness when learning, teaching and performing these sexy moves in front of crews and actors?
It was fun...a lot of fun. I wouldn't say it was awkward because, a lot of the time, you can make a situation awkward by thinking that it's awkward. It was definitely interesting, but not awkward. I got to be a part of Rome's [played by Jada Pinkett Smith] club scene and it was interesting to stand around with the ladies that were there interacting and just "hanging" out with us. Ha! I'm laughing just talking about it.
What was your favorite part about working on these films?
My favorite part is probably just hanging and working with everyone. You always hear stories about celebrities and drama, how this person is mean or that person is a diva, but this wasn't the case at all. Everyone is cool...almost too cool. It made me appreciate where I'm at and taught me how to treat and be treated by people.
