Biography
Anthony W Johnson is the creator of Ballet Magique, (registered trademark) https://trademark.trademarkia.com/ballet-magique-87875120.html, an entertainment company in Los Angeles California that fuses dance, magic, music, theatre and "Wushu" (Chinese Martial Arts) into dynamic performances, and has received accolades from around the globe, and also gained Lester Horton Award nominations for "Outstanding Achievement in Choreography", Costume and Lighting Design" for Ballet Magique's "Ring of the Rose and most recently, performed at both the World Dance & Choreography Awards and a performed "The "C" Diaries at the Alex Theater in Glendale, California.
He is also the founder of Laughing Man on Fire Productions, where he creates and produces innovative, content for all genres. Anthony will make his film directorial debut with an innovative motion picture called "Alexis Colette" where the film has already garnered high profile HOD's and the screenplay amazing reviews.
A proud member of both The Dramatist Guild and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Johnson's background in dance, theatre, magic, music and "Wushu" is extensive. From local speeches by the time he was eleven, to the theatre and speech competition circuit and upon graduation in 1985, he took home the State and District Championships in solo acting at the Tennessee High School Speech & Drama League. As well, he performed and worked at the Circuit Playhouse, Playhouse on the Square and Theater Memphis in Memphis, TN.
Johnson toured with legend Sir Paul McCartney's "Drivin' U.S.A.", several Pacific Tours on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and a plethora of television and film appearances including "Son of the Beach", "Hoodlum", "Skin Walker" "The World Magic Awards", "Jackson's: An American Dream", "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" and "Black Limousine".
Anthony began writing at the age of nine and his poetry has been published in several anthologies. He has won several awards for poetry Johnson was nominated Best Actor for his role as "Tommy Gomez in "Me and Ms. D" (the story of Tommy Gomez and the legendary Katherine Dunham) at The Black Ensemble Theatre of Chicago. Other lead roles there included "A Streetcar named Desire" and "The Amen Corner" as well as numerous Children's Theater works at Ebony Talent Association in Chicago. Television and film appearances include, "Son of the Beach", "Hoodlum", "Skin Walker" "The World Magic Awards", "Jackson's: An American Dream", "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" and "Black Limousine".
Johnson has also written a second dynamic musical drama called "Da Vinci", a riveting and slick musical about the life, art and creations of the legendary Leonardo Da Vinci and has created a science-fiction, fantasy television series called "C", based on his book, which he plans to publish in 2021.
Johnson's parlay into independent feature films include his dual role as both screenplay writer and creative producer for the thriller "Vodun", which has been optioned also by Samaco Films, LLC. Johnson will also be making his directorial debut on the film "Alexis Colette" which he also wrote and is expected to begin principle photography in early 2021.
Johnson has worked in most every field of dance and theatre. Given the great opportunity to perform for many years with the Lyric Opera of Chicago under the tutelage of his teacher and mentor Kenneth Von Heidecke, in Operas like "Aida" and "The Ghost of Versailles" where he flew 80 feet above the stage holding a Champaign bottle tumbling about. Other Ballet, Modern jazz companies he worked with, to name a few include The Los Angeles Opera Company, and Ballet Theatre of Chicago, Ballet Chicago, and Chicago Festival Ballet, International Ballet of Rotaru, Tampa, Colorado Ballet, Contemporary Ballet Theatre and the Moscow Ballet, Ballethnic, The Lula Washington Dance Theatre, Atlanta Ballet, Physical Rhythm Project, James Kelly Project, Second City Ballet, Media City ballet, " Those funny Little People", Colors Dance Theatre, and Demetrius Klein & Dancers to name a few.
A brief collection of Johnson's accomplishments and performances as both a dancer and/actor include; Broadway shows such as, "Marat/Sade", a Broadway tour of "Dreamgirls", "Randy Newman's Faust", and in several productions at The Black Ensemble Theatre in Chicago where he was nominated Best Actor for his role as "Tommy Gomez in "Me and Ms. D" the story of Tommy Gomez and the legendary Katherine Dunham. Other lead roles in amazing work such as "A Streetcar named Desire" and "The Amen Corner".
In 2004, "Dance Spirit Magazine featured an article on Anthony W Johnson with an interview about Lyrical Dancers in Los Angeles as he was considered the best male Lyrical dancer in Los Angeles, CA.
As the Director of Ballet Magique, Johnson personally have received accolades from Master Magician Lance Burton, renowned illusion designer Jim Steinmeyer, The Orange County Chinese Association, and the Beverly Hills Outlook, and most recently, The World Dance Awards.
Johnson also gained a Lester Horton Award nomination for "Outstanding Achievement in Choreography", Costume and Lighting Design" for Ballet Magique's "Ring of the Rose. That year his student Nobutaka Mochimaru also received the prestigious award for Male Dancer of the Year from The Beverly Hills Outlook for his performance with Ballet Magique, beating out Mikhail Baryshnikov and Carlos Acosta.
Mr. Johnson has taught dance throughout the United States and abroad and spent many years on the dance faculty at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, International Ballet Academy (IDA) the renowned Millennium Dance Complex, The Edge Performing Arts, Westside School of Ballet.
Anthony has been a judge for several dance competitions such as "Showstoppers Dance competition, and I love Dance. Mr. Johnson continues to inspire and mentor students and professionals alike, most of whom have gone on to perform with the likes of Janet Jackson, Madonna, American Ballet Theatre, School of American Ballet, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Alberta Ballet, Cirque Du Soleil, National Ballet of Canada, and the incomparable Béjart Ballet Lausanne; On Broadway in The Lion King, The Color Purple, Come Fly Away, and Mama Mia, in television and film, So you think you can Dance, Dancing with the Stars, Step 1, 2, & 3.
As well countless schools and colleges such as School of American Ballet, The Boston Ballet School, The Rock School of Ballet, The Ailey School, Béjart Rudra, Boston Conservatory, and Juilliard to name a few. Anthony has also written numerous songs for past live productions with Ballet Magique and will be releasing several songs in 2021 iTunes and Amazon for the first time. His writing talents has led music producers Alex Elena, Stevie B, Art Dixie of Hottraxx Inc. to collaborate new slick songs for well-known artists.
Anthony's late partner Gene Wooley former VP of MCA records became his inspiration and why he has continued to pursue excellence in music and the arts.
