DENNA THOMSEN and ZAK RYAN SCHLEGEL
Creative Directors
Benjamin Kaufman
Executive Producer
DENNA THOMSEN is a maverick choreographer, filmmaker, dancer and actress who has made a significant impact on the entertainment industry.
Denna grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and later received a Bachelor of Arts from Colorado State University. She moved to California in 2007 joining Hysterica Dance Company, founded by Kitty McNamee. Denna made her first big break as Lead Actress opposite Shia Labeouf in Sigur Rós’ “Fjögur Píanó”, directed by Alma Ha’rel. She went on to work with Madonna, David Bowie, The Weekend, Snoop Dogg, Florence + The Machine, SIA, Justin Timberlake, Doja Cat, Harry Styles, Kanye West, Florence Pugh, Margot Robbie, Ewan McGregor, Anjelica Huston, Zoe Saldana, Jared Leto, Kristin Wiig, Zendaya, Kate Hudson and more.
She soon became an in demand choreographer for television shows like Winning Time, Euphoria, Pose, Angelyne, and Perry Mason as well as films including Booksmart, Blonde, Don’t Worry Darling, Rebel Moon, and Honey Boy. These projects gave Denna the opportunity to collaborate with Directors such as David Fincher, Adam McKay, Spike Jonze, Olivia Wilde, Edgar Wright, Jon Chu, Sam Levinson, Ryan Murphy, Kim Gehrig, Floria Sigismondi, Megaforce, Raine Miller and Hannah Lux Davis. Denna’s strong sense of narrative storytelling is evident in her work and can be seen in campaigns for Gucci, Moschino, Apple, Sirius XM, Mercedes, Secret, Nike, Sonos, Diesel and AirBNB. Her work for Director Tom Noakes Reebok spot, won a World Choreography Award for “Best Choreography in a Commercial”.
Denna harnessed her ability to alchemize dance movement and acting from acclaimed educators at The Lee Strasberg Institute, The Beverly Hills Playhouse, Aquila Morong and John Hindman Scene Study.
Her gift to tell compelling stories through movement design, coupled with her willingness to take creative risks, inspires dancers to explore new artistic possibilities and sets her apart as a true visionary in the dance world.
ZAK RYAN SCHLEGEL is a community builder, choreographer, performer with Shen Wei, creative director of CONGRESS, and educator at The Joffrey Ballet School. His dance work has been presented from The Juilliard School in NYC to Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA. The New York Times calls him “a star” & Wall Street Journal “eye-catching & effortless”. His extensive research of Eastern and Western movement traditions, philanthropic commitment, and multi-disciplinary leadership are underpinned by philosophy and spirituality.
On stage, Zak has performed and toured globally as company member and soloist in Shen Wei Dance Arts, Italy’s Spellbound Contemporary Ballet led by Mauro Astolfi, Yin Yue Dance Company and Backhausdance on iconic stages from BAM, Art Basel Miami and Hong Kong to The Guggenheim, Asia Society in NY and Hong Kong, Arcosanti’s FORM Festival, and LA’s Walt Disney Concert Hall in collaboration with the LA Philharmonic. He has created an evening length, experiential sound bath “Liminal” with Jonsi and Alex Somers of Sigur Ros, and has danced the works of Jean-Guilliame Weiss, Ryan Heffington with associate Ryan Spencer, Nina McNeely, Mandy Moore with associates Jillian Meyers & Megan Lawson, Michael Rooney, Jennifer Backhaus, Denna Thomsen, JA, Lisa Eaton and Josie Walsh. He received formative training from Rafael Bonachela at Sydney Dance Company, Danielle Agami, Lucas Crandall, has participated in Gaga research with Ohad Naharin in Tel Aviv, Israel and holds a BFA from Chapman University.
Commercially, Zak can be seen in Ryan Heffington’s Emmy award-winning choreographic work for HBO’s Euphoria directed by Sam Levinson starring Zendaya, Nina McNeely’s Emmy award-winning choreographic work for HBO’s The Idol (Associate Choreographer + Dancer) directed by Sam Levinson starring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp, the feature film Babylon, directed by Damien Chazelle starring Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie, and is the featured artist in Lexus’ L5 campaign. He has worked with directors Damien Chazelle, Sam Levinson, Jon Watts, Edgar Wright, Jonas Åkerlund, Melina Matsoukas, Floria Sigismondi, Amy Seimetz, Sebastian Strasser, Nina McNeely, Dugan O’Neal, Kitty McNamee, Greko Sklavounos, Eliot Lee Hazel, WIFE, Lita Albuquerque and GMUNK.
Other commercial collaborations include: The Weeknd, Sigur Ros, Britney Spears, Ry X, Lawrence Rothman, Years & Years, Peaches, Ghost, MIKA, Ecko, Audrey Nula, Nova Wav, Fitz and the Tantrums, Japanese Breakfast, Lawrence Rothman, The Pierces, Sam Sparro, Vogue Italia, FLAUNT and OUT magazine, Lexus, Toyota, Ford, Squarespace, Amazon Prime, Sleep Number, Tedx, The Getty, Milk and FIDM in multiple genres and platforms from film/television, music videos, live stage performances, commercial campaigns and print editorials.
BENJAMIN KAUFMAN is a Los Angeles-based producer and creative director working across film, art, music and live performance. He began his career in the art world before moving into artist management, production and company building, including helping develop MAAVVEN and, more recently, Margot Station with producer Adam Gibbs and director Garret Price. His work has included projects for HBO, The Ringer, Universal Music, Warner Music and 88rising, as well as Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary and Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror. Ben tends to work behind the scenes, moving between the creative and practical sides of a project. Outside work, he spends a good deal of time in the kitchen, enjoys a good book, and is looking for the right Xolo to adopt.
