Shane Sparks

Shane Sparks (born June 25, 1969) is a hip-hop choreographer best known for his work as a choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance and judge on America's Best Dance Crew.

Early life

Shane Sparks was born on June 25, 1969 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is the youngest of three children born to Melvin and Wanda Sparks, both officers in the police force. Sparks spent some time in the hospital after his birth due to scoliosis. He became interested in dance at the age of eleven, when he started performing in talent shows. His interest in teaching became apparent when he started offering dance lessons from his own backyard. Dance became extremely important to Sparks after his sister's boyfriend was murdered, as it became a way for him to escape and feel safe.

Career

Sparks has been recognized in the industry by receiving many awards for projects such as the “Best Choreography in a Feature Film” award for "You Got Served" at the 2004 American Choreography Awards and the “2005 BET Award” for co-choreographing with Omarion on the same film.