GREASE The Musical Creative Team Arlene Phillips

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Music Staging & Choreographer

Arlene Phillips first came to the attention of the British public when she created the dance group Hot Gossip. Since then her choreography has been seen in theatre, feature films, concert arenas, television, music videos and commercials.

Theatre choreography credits include Grease, The Sound of Music, We Will Rock You (music by Queen), Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express, and the US touring productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Jesus Christ Superstar. She also choreographed Matador, Time (starring Cliff Richard) and the RSC production of A Clockwork Orange (music by U2). As a director and choreographer productions include Saturday Night Fever, the concert tour of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber with stars Michael Ball, Michael Bolton, Sarah Brightman, Petula Clark, Michael Crawford and Elaine Paige, Black Goes With Everything (the songs of Don Black) and EFX at the MGM Grand (starring David Cassidy). She recently directed and choreographed the Bratz UK arena tour. She directed Michael Flatley’s acclaimed arena production Lord of the Dance, The James Bond Gala for the Red Cross, Donna Summer in concert at the Universal Amphitheatre and Midsummer Classics at the Royal Albert Hall. Arlene was invited to be the Director of Choreography for the Manchester XVII Commonwealth Games ceremonies and to stage Sarah Brightman and Jose Carreras in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, on the official theme, Amigos Para Siempre (Friends for Life).

In film choreography she has worked with many notable directors such as John Huston (Annie), Ridley Scott (Legend starring Tom Cruise), Clint Eastwood (White Hunter, Black Heart), Ken Russell (Salome’s Last Dance) and Terry Jones (Monty Python’s Meaning of Life). On other films she has worked with the Village People (Can’t Stop the Music) and the Pet Shop Boys (It Couldn’t Happen Here).

 Television credits include Ken Russell’s The ABC of Music, The Benny Hill Show, The Hot Shoe Show, the US syndicated Dancin’ to the Hits, The Kenny Everett Video Show featuring dance group Hot Gossip with Sarah Brightman, Peak Practice, Blue Peter, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Friends, Lesley Garrett - a Night at the Opera and An Evening With Michael Ball. Her work has also been seen on The Brit Awards, The Royal Variety Show, The Prince’s Trust, Children in Need, Party in the Park and the legendary Party at the Palace. In 2006 Arlene was commissioned by Mattel to create a dance DVD for children.

In music videos she has worked with AC/DC, the Bee Gees, Duran Duran, Erasure, Aretha Franklin, Boy George, Whitney Houston, Joan Jett, Elton John, Kiss, Freddie Mercury, George Michael, Queen, Cliff Richard, Diana Ross, Tina Turner and Robbie Williams. Arlene has choreographed over one hundred TV commercials in England and America including 7-Up, American Express, Burger King, Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper, Levi Jeans, Vidal Sasoon and Yellow Pages. Arlene has worked with numerous stars and has received theatre award nominations including a Tony, two Oliviers, a National Broadway and a FaNY. Awards include an MTV, a Drama Desk, a Bafta, and an Emmy for best choreography. In the 2002 New Year’s Honours List Arlene was awarded an OBE for Services to Dance and in 2004 a Companionship Award from the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, for her contribution to dance, presented by Sir Paul McCartney. Arlene appears as a judge on BBC1’s hugely popular Strictly Come Dancing and she judged the follow-up series Strictly Dance Fever. In 2007, together with Bruno Tonioli from Strictly Come Dancing, they created a new BBC1 show, DanceX.