Jim Cooney (he/him) is an award-winning choreographer who has taught Jazz, Tap, and Musical Theater across the world. The New York Times profiled his class in their Theater and Dance sections and praised him for training dancers with "audition must haves: character, motivation, and endurance." He's taught everyone from absolute beginners to professionals and celebrities such as former American Idol contestants, coaching Katie Couric how to lindy hop, and serving on the team rehearsing MTV's Rich Girls star Ally Hilfiger on her Broadway debut. He is proudly the faculty advisor of BDC's elite Professional Semester training program.
Recent projects include directing/choreographing Broadway Under the Stars for Transcendence Theatre Company; choreographing the new musical Here Be Dragons at the Vineyard Theatre; Between The Sea and Sky for NYMF which won Best Musical and earned Jim a Best Choreography nomination; A Christmas Carol at the ZACH Theatre; developing/directing the new musical Divided via workshops and NYC readings; and Dreams, a short dance film conceived and choreographed by Jim.
A few highlighted past credits are ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition featuring Tony award winner Kristin Chenoweth, Sweet Charity directed by Tony Award winner Michael Rupert, Broadway Bares directed by Tony award winner Jerry Mitchell, Tableaux for Holland America Line, The Accused at Tropicana Atlantic City (Casino Show of the Year winner), Nothing But Trash at Theater for the New City (IT Award nominee for Outstanding Movement), and One Night Only: An Evening with Alex Newell at Pittsburgh CLO’s Cabaret at Theater Square.
Associate Choreographer credits include Guys and Dolls directed/choreographed by Tony nominated Dan Knechtges, WikiMusical starring Tony award nominee Brenda Braxton, and the workshop of Fairycakes by Douglas Carter Beane. He also assisted Tony nominated Randy Skinner on New York City Center’s production of Abby’s Song starring Paul Sorvino and Ginger starring Tony winner Donna McKechnie.
Jim has choreographed commercials and events for the likes of Warner Brothers, Office Max, and Oral-B featuring celebrities such as Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin and Robbie Rosen of American Idol. He’s worked with Oxygen on both seasons of The Glee Project for their upfront presentations and their second season activation of The Prancing Elites Project.
He has been the dance captain for eight productions including the first national tour of Tony award winner Susan Stroman’s Broadway revival of The Music Man and the original company of Nights on Broadway, directed and choreographed by Tony award winner Andy Blankenbuehler and starring former Miss America Kate Shindle.
Visit www.JimCooney.me to learn more
Read less
