Lil Buck: From Memphis Streets to Global Stages

Lil Buck, born Charles Riley in 1988 in Chicago, rose from Memphis street dancing to international fame through jookin, a style derived from 80s/90s Gangsta walking. His breakthrough came in 2011 when Spike Jonze filmed his interpretation of Camille Saint-Saëns's "The Dying Swan" with Yo-Yo Ma; the YouTube video garnered over three million views. He trained at New Ballet Ensemble under Katie Smythe, who co-created the piece. Madonna personally selected him for her 2012 MDNA Tour and later for the Rebel Heart tour. He performed with Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson: One, and has collaborated with brands like Versace, Louis Vuitton, Apple, and GQ. He danced with the New York City Ballet, appeared in Spike Jonze's film Her, and performed at TED talks. He has worked with choreographer Benjamin Millepied at the Palace of Versailles, and with Wynton Marsalis and bagpiper Cristina Pato. He co-created the anti-gun violence video "Color of Reality" with Jon Boogz and Alexa Meade. Through his nonprofit The Eye, he aims to make dance accessible to children regardless of barriers.