Whether he’s making his official debut at KO’s annual Choreographer Showcase or taking over the center of the circle at his high school dances, one thing is clear: Choral Director Thomas Griffith, also known as “TG,” knows how to make an impression. Meet this month’s Musician of the Month!
Audience members packed into the theater filled with students expecting an upbeat tap number in the Showcase, but what they didn’t expect was the undeniable stage presence of a faculty member. Mr. Griffith took the stage, instantly commanding attention. From the moment Mr. Griffith stepped into the spotlight, it was clear the audience was in for a good and memorable performance.
His presence in the show was as much of a shock to him. “I never thought this would be in the cards,” Mr. Griffith said. “When Mr. Reynolds jokingly asked if I would step in, I immediately thought it sounded like so much fun, but I was also realistic. I didn’t think I could learn such complex steps on a week’s notice.”
After filming the piece on Friday, he was fully ready to learn it the next day. On the Saturday before the performance, he got a lot of support from the choreographer of the piece, Katie Kavanaugh. He worked with her for a grand total of nine hours! “At first, I was excited about the opportunity, especially if it meant the number could still make it on stage,” Mr. Griffith said. “But once Katie said I was doing well, I thought, ‘This is terrible news, I have to do it now.’ I was genuinely horrified.”
With the quick turnaround time and the ultimate task of learning months-long choreography in the week to come after that Saturday, Mr. Griffith did not mess around and took his craft very seriously. “I practiced at least four hours a day, going into the studio as early as 6:00 a.m.,” Mr. Griffith said,” as well as using breaks during the school day, and staying after school.”
The process of trying to pick up the choreography was not easy, but by the day the performance had arrived, Mr. Griffith was more than ready, even with all of the nerves. “By the time the show came, I trusted myself because I had put in so much time,” Mr. Griffith said. “The day before, your mind goes to worst-case scenarios, but once you’re in the wings and the music starts, it’s pure adrenaline, your heart’s pumping, and you’re just ready to go.”
Beyond his stellar performance in the show, you may be curious about what his theater and dance background may entail. Mr. Griffith’s stage presence and naturally God-given talent are something that he was just born with. “Movement comes very naturally to me,” Mr. Griffith reflected. “I’m always tapping my feet or doing brush steps without even realizing it.”
Beyond his gift comes years of training. With his first initial performance in “Once Upon a Mattress” in fourth grade, he performed in the chorus, slowly building on his journey. “As I approached middle school, my mom started getting my brothers and me involved in community theater,” Mr. Griffith said. “I remember doing ‘Annie’ the summer after sixth grade when I was 12. That’s when I got my first-ever pair of tap shoes.”
In high school, Mr. Griffith branched out into soft shoe and ballroom numbers, as well as continuing community theatre, deepening his love for performance. “I feel like I have a natural propensity for movement, and I really love it,” Mr. Griffith said.
Taking a closer look back into his high school days, Mr. Griffith wasn’t only involved in your usual dance styles, but in line dancing, and not just on his own. “My family used to go line dancing when I was in high school,” Mr. Griffith said. “Which sounds kind of cringey, but was so fun. We loved the energy of people coming together and sharing a dance floor.” He additionally added that his fan favorite out of the songs was actually “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga.
Moving further along in his journey, we arrive at his time in college, where he finally got to expand even more than before, really taking that initiative with his skills. “In college, I started paying closer attention to how Michael Jackson moved on stage and tried to mimic his movements,” Mr. Griffith said. “Dancing just gave me personal enjoyment and confidence, as I could really own myself.”
As we look into what his dancing career may look like in the near future, he already has some ideas. “Honestly, this might be a curse that follows me now,” Mr. Griffith said. “I’ve taken an interest in learning ballet, and I’d really like to take formal lessons.” He mentions that he may want to partake in performing a pas de deux for the next showcase, but says that next time, it would be on his terms and wants to choose to do it, not just to step in because of an emergency.
Overall, he remarks on a positive outcome of the performance. “I would absolutely love to participate in Showcase again in the future,” Mr. Griffith said.
