The Best Dance Transformations of the Past Decade

January 1, 2020

It’s the start of a brand-new year—and a brand-new decade! As you head back to school, the studio, and/or the stage, have you taken a little time to look back at how far you’ve come as a dancer over the past 10 years? Many dance icons are doing just that, sharing pics and videos showing how they’ve evolved since the beginning of the 2010s. Take a look at eight of our favorite oh-so inspiring transformations.

Jojo Gomez

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• • 10 years ago I visited Los Angeles & fell in love. I knew that it was where I wanted to be. I started my career as a professional dancer. I was hired on many dream jobs, received the best training & then found my voice in choreography in 2014. Watching this video makes me extremely emotional. I remember driving to Millennium every single day & waiting for a teacher to cancel their class so I could beg for a chance to sub. It was my dream to be a teacher. And to share my passion with others. Any chance I had to share my choreography with friends was a dream. I would rent studio space after studio space. Post video after video on my silly little YouTube channel that had NO subscribers. Hoping for a chance that Millennium or Edge would see it. My first class consisted of 5 dancers & I will never forget the feeling. It was the best day of my life. Fast forward to now. The fact that I get to do this. Every single day for a living. Travel anywhere in the world to a packed class. Work with some of the illest celebrities (who saw my work on social media) And receive up to millions of views on my YouTube channel with now 1.4M subscribers. My father always told me, “Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard”. That really stuck with me because I wasn’t always talented. Technique, confidence, or muscle memory did NOT come naturally to me at first. But with hard work, dedication, & belief – anything is possible. Anything. Life is filled with so many ups & downs. Heartbreak. Rock bottoms. I’ve lived through them all. Especially as a female in Los Angeles, where everybody is out for themselves. But the one thing that kept me going was my dreams. My eagerness to succeed. And to quite frankly prove my haters wrong. Damn, do I love haters. For those of you who have no one to lean on. Or don’t have a support system. Use that as a fuel to your fire to succeed. Be your own hero & chase the vision of yourself that you see in your head. Work harder than everybody else. Take every single class. Spend another hour at the gym. Save up all your money for that plane ticket. And I promise you – one day you will look back & be so grateful for the journey. Because you made it.

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Dec 30, 2019 at 1:33pm PST

Brian Friedman

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Looking back on this decade of dance and feeling exhausted and inspired! I’m sharing 10 of my favorites here… 1 from each year that I actually danced in. Each of these videos is special to me for their own reasons which I will keep to myself 😉 I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! Now let’s go back in time! 2019: #ThinkinBoutYou by Ciara with @robbieblue_ & @mariespieldenner filmed by @ryanparma at @mdcdance 2018: #Wavey by @cliq feat @alika Filmed by @timmilgram at @westcoastdancethtr 2017: #Touch by @littlemix Filmed by @ryanparma at @mdcdance 2016: #IntoYou by @arianagrande with @whyleyy & @jaljoshua Filmed by @directorbrazil at @mdcdance 2015: #RhythmOfLove by @danitykane with @karenschuang @theresastone91 @montanaefaw & @allisonclaire42 Filmed by @timmilgram at @mdcdance 2014: #BreatheOnMe by @britneyspears Choreographed & danced by @yanismarshall and yours truly Filmed by @timmilgram at @movementlifestyle 2013: #WhatAboutUs by @thesaturdays with @janelleginestra @zacharyvenegas @willdabeast__ & @dejantubic Filmed on location in Mexico City 2012: WhereHaveYouBeen by @badgalriri with @tuckerbarkley & @whyleyy Filmed at @mdcdance 2011: #LittleBit by @lykkeli with @blakemcgrath @sloaner7 @tuckerbarkley & @kaylaradomski4 Filmed at @boogiezoneutopia 2010: #Delovely with @tajariley @paulinemata & @daniellepeig Filmed at #ThePulseOnTour #BrianFriedmanChoreography #BFreeGlobal #BrianFriedman #BrianFriedmanCreative #MasterOfDance

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Dec 31, 2019 at 5:45pm PST

Cassandra Trenary

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✨2009, the year I moved to Ny to join the @abtschool vs 2019 at @abtofficial ‘s Spring Gala. ✨All I’d tell that awkward, worried girl checking her back attitude in that ABT studio is, “It’s going to be ok little queen – you have a crazy and marvelous journey ahead of you😘. “ Although I haven’t grown out of being awkward or worrisome in this passed decade (working on it lol), I do love coming across memories such as this 1st photo to remind myself that your wildest dreams are possible, and often come true when you least expect. It’s going to be ok little queen, the best is yet to come! 🧀 🙈 Lots of love to you all on this New Years Day! #Happy2020 #OnToTheNext #TenYearChallenge #GreatnessAhead #YouGotThis #HappyNewYear First photo from @kristinehateseverything thanks girl!! Dress in second photo by @designerhelen ✨

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Jan 1, 2020 at 3:16pm PST

Nia Sioux

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Jan 6th 2011 to now. What a crazy decade. This was me 9years old going into the dancemoms audition/interview. (My mom let me do my own makeup lol) I begged my parents to let me go try out. After like the third time I asked they finally allowed me to go because they didn’t want me to live a life of regrets… look what it led to. It was only supposed to be a six week documentary🤷🏽‍♀️ I made so many wonderful memories this decade that will last a lifetime. There have been ups and downs, and a lot of healing but I wouldn’t change a thing. Shoutout to the people who have supported me through everything. You’re the reason why I get to do what I love and live out my dreams. We’re walking into 2020 with the best vibes ever✨

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Dec 31, 2019 at 7:27am PST

Todrick Hall

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Welp, 2010’s…It’s been fun! So much happened. I was on American Idol, I started a YouTube channel and collected over 3.4 Million Subscribers and over 727 Million Views, I choreographed for Beyonce, Opened the Kids Choice Awards, Created the Virgin America safety video, Had my own show called “Todrick” on MTV, Broke a Guiness World Record, Did 5 Broadway shows, released 7 regular albums and 2 visual albums, Did 7 self produced world tours, Became a choreographer and judge of the Emmy Award winning show “Rupaul’s Drag Race,” Got my own documentary on Netflix, Did a Super Bowl Commercial, Danced in a video with Taylor Swift, then Co-produced a video with her, won a FREAKIN VMA, Got a job as a judge on a new BBC show in the UK, wrote the new parade for Disneyland, had my heart broken, healed my heart, burned some bridges, built some new ones, got stabbed in the back, didn’t let it take me down, lost some “friends” made some new ones, traveled the world, changed some lives, lost some loved ones, wore a lot of heels, swallowed A LOT of glitter and I’d do it all again. Thank you all for sticking with me and helping me grow as an artist and a human. Ready to take 2020 by storm, let’s do this!

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Dec 31, 2019 at 9:15pm PST

Kaycee Rice

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#10yearchallenge Looking back at this decade, I’m so incredibly thankful for every opportunity that I have had. I’ve grown so much, and to be able to look back at what I’ve been able to accomplish so far is crazy to think about. From trying out for AGT for the first time at 7 years old, Katy Perry retweeting my first hip hop solo, getting to meet and perform with insanely talented, down to earth artists, creating memories and inspiring others, to creating my own Nike shoe, performing on World Of Dance, and teaching my first ever class; I am forever thankful for every moment♥️ Each year brought something new. Every day I continue to work hard to be where I am, stay true to who I am, and continue spreading positivity and sharing my love. Each and everyone of you have contributed to my journey in finding who I am, and have helped me break out of my shell and express that through my platforms. Thank you for allowing me to share and grow with all of you. I have my highs and lows but I am learning so much. I have so much love to give, and still so much to learn. The future can be intimidating, but I will continue to strive to be the best person that I can be, embracing my imperfections, and growing as an artist. Here is to the New Year! I want to bring love, laughter, memories, and an open mind into this new decade. I can’t wait to see what happens next☺️ see you all next year…. 💋-Kaycee Rice 2020

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Dec 31, 2019 at 4:09pm PST