Black Celebs Who Started as Backup Dancers for Pop Icons

Many famous Black entertainers started their careers not as the main act, but by supporting other stars. They often began as backup dancers, using their talent and energy to perform with some of the biggest names in pop music – on tours, in music videos, and even on shows like ‘Soul Train’. This list celebrates twenty-five well-known people who honed their skills as dancers before becoming global stars themselves.

Tupac Shakur

Tupac Shakur, who became one of hip-hop’s most important artists, didn’t start as a lead performer. He first worked behind the scenes with the group Digital Underground, based in Oakland. He began as a roadie and dancer, appearing in their videos and on tour with them in the early 1990s. This experience was crucial in helping him land a record deal and start his successful solo career.

Vivica A. Fox

Vivica A. Fox is a well-known actress and producer today, but she started her career as a dancer. In the early 1980s, she became a regular dancer on the popular TV show ‘Soul Train,’ and she also appeared in the Klymaxx music video for ‘Meeting in the Ladies Room.’ These early experiences helped launch her acting career, leading to roles in soap operas and, later, major films.

Rosie Perez

Rosie Perez first gained attention for her vibrant dancing in the opening of Spike Lee’s film, ‘Do the Right Thing.’ Before that, she honed her skills as a dancer on ‘Soul Train’ and performed backup dancing for artists such as Bobby Brown and LL Cool J. Her distinctive style eventually led her to choreograph the routines for the Fly Girls on ‘In Living Color.’ This dance background proved crucial, launching her successful career as both an actress and an activist.

FKA Twigs

FKA Twigs, a unique British singer and songwriter, began her career as a professional backup dancer in London. She performed in music videos for popular artists like Jessie J, Kylie Minogue, and Ed Sheeran, with her work in Jessie J’s ‘Price Tag’ video being a standout early achievement. Eventually, she moved from being a supporting performer to a celebrated solo artist, creating music that mixes different styles and genres.

Columbus Short

Columbus Short is an actor famous for his roles in movies like ‘Stomp the Yard’ and the TV show ‘Scandal’. He actually started his career as a dancer, working professionally with Britney Spears. He began as a backup dancer and eventually became her choreographer for the Onyx Hotel Tour. This early work in the music industry helped him gain recognition and move into acting.

Teyana Taylor

Teyana Taylor is a talented performer who excels at singing, acting, and dancing. She first became known as a dancer, even working with Beyoncé on the ‘Ring the Alarm’ video and catching the eye of Pharrell Williams, who signed her to his record label. She still showcases impressive dance routines in her own music videos and concerts.

Kat Graham

Kat Graham, famous for playing Bonnie Bennett in ‘The Vampire Diaries’, actually began her career as a dancer. She started by performing as a backup dancer for well-known artists like Missy Elliott, Pharrell Williams, and Jamie Foxx. When she was only fifteen, she danced behind Bow Wow at the BET Awards. This early experience in the music industry paved the way for her successful career as both an actress and a singer.

Laurieann Gibson

Laurieann Gibson began her career as a backup dancer and has become a highly respected choreographer and creative director. She gained recognition after studying at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and performing with Mary J. Blige. Many viewers first got to know her through the reality show ‘Making the Band,’ where she used her dance skills to coach hopeful performers. Now, she directs elaborate world tours for some of the biggest pop artists.

Misty Copeland

Misty Copeland is a groundbreaking dancer who became the first African American woman to be a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. Before achieving this historic milestone, she gained widespread recognition touring with Prince, who specifically chose her to perform alongside him on his Welcome 2 America tour. This opportunity allowed her to share her exceptional talent with a much larger and more diverse audience than she’d previously reached in the world of classical ballet.

Zendaya

Zendaya is a huge star now, but she started out as a young model and dancer. She got her first professional job as a backup dancer in a Sears commercial with Selena Gomez. She then joined the Future Shock Oakland dance group, which helped her become a better performer. These early experiences eventually led to her role on the Disney Channel show ‘Shake It Up’, which focused on dance.

Jermaine Dupri

Jermaine Dupri is a hugely influential producer and songwriter who helped define the sound of hip-hop in Atlanta. He started his career as a dancer for the group Whodini, even touring with them on the Fresh Festival in the 1980s. This experience sparked his passion for music production and led him to discover and work with artists like Kris Kross.

RuPaul

RuPaul, the world-renowned drag queen and TV host, began his career performing in clubs in Atlanta and New York City. He first gained widespread attention as a backup dancer in The B-52s’ ‘Love Shack’ music video, where he appeared in full drag during the party scenes. This memorable appearance helped launch his own successful music career and ultimately led to his global success.

Omarion

As a huge fan of early 2000s R&B, I always knew Omarion had something special! While a lot of people remember him as the lead singer of B2K and a total teen idol, what’s often overlooked is his incredible background in dance. He actually started out as a professional dancer, backing up the group Before Dark. It was those skills that really caught the eye of the people putting B2K together, and dance has remained a huge part of everything he does, even in his solo work. It’s always been a signature element of his performances, and I love that!

Flex Alexander

Flex Alexander started his entertainment career as a dancer and choreographer. He toured with Salt-N-Pepa as a backup dancer for three years and also collaborated with artists like Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige, even choreographing for the latter. These early experiences in music paved the way for his later work as an actor in TV comedies.

Jody Watley

Jody Watley started her career as a dancer on the TV show ‘Soul Train.’ She was chosen from the dancers to join the R&B group Shalamar, and after finding success with them, she became a popular solo artist, even winning a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Throughout her career, her unique style and dancing were always a key part of her public image.

Fatima Robinson

Fatima Robinson is a highly requested choreographer known throughout the music industry. She began her career as a dancer, becoming well-known for her performance in Michael Jackson’s ‘Remember the Time’ music video. This appearance sparked further opportunities, leading her to become a choreographer for events like the Super Bowl and major films.

Fred Berry

Fred Berry became famous for playing Rerun on the TV show ‘What’s Happening!!’. But before acting, he was a dancer with The Lockers, a popular and innovative dance group. The Lockers performed on ‘Saturday Night Live’ and toured with several musicians in the 1970s. Berry often used his dance skills in his role on the sitcom.

Alfonso Ribeiro

Everyone knows Alfonso Ribeiro as Carlton from ‘The Fresh Prince,’ but people might not realize he was a performer long before that! I was surprised to learn he actually started on Broadway and did a lot of commercials as a kid. He even got to dance with Michael Jackson in a Pepsi commercial – how cool is that? Beyond that, he put out a book teaching people how to dance and starred in a Broadway show called ‘The Tap Dance Kid.’ You can still see that incredible dance background in everything he does now, whether he’s hosting a show or just being funny – it’s really clear he’s a trained performer.

2025-12-10 14:16