User:DanceWaack/sandbox

Samara Cohen (born November 29, 1985) known professionally as Princess Lockerooo' - The Queen Of Waacking, is an American Dance Icon, influencer, producer, educator, activist, and public speaker. She gained national attention on season 8 of So You Think You Can Dance? where she debuted Waacking to the world in her iconic solo performance “The Spy.” She went on to work with Madonna, and pioneered the resurgence of Waacking across the globe. Her unique brand of entertainment stands for self-empowerment, equality, and sensuality without objectification.

Early Life
Samara Cohen was born and raised in Manhattan by a single mother, Judith Cohen, an artist, and avid theatergoer, who played a major role in Samara’s early passion for the stage. Samara grew up watching Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals, seeing Broadway Shows, and was enrolled in gymnastics, circus, dance, and music programs. At the early age of 3, she found a passion for the performing arts. She wrote her first musical in the 5th grade which she later produced at 92Y summer camp theater department.

Samara attended PPAS Professional Performing Arts School for Jr. High School where she studied Musical Theater and went on to LaGuardia High School where she graduated with a degree in Vocal Music. In 2004 Samara enrolled in classes at the Broadway Dance Center and happened upon the New York City underground dance scene where she discovered Waacking. Her enthusiasm for the dance helped her overcome depression.

Career & Education
A student of "Brian “Footwork” Green" & protege / adopted daughter of the late Soul Train legend "Tyrone Proctor", Princess Lockerooo garnered the title “The Queen Of Waacking.” She set the bar for Waacking as she reintroduced it to the world on season 8 of So You Think You can dance, where she coined her signature style "Propeller Waacking".

With a 15 year tenure in the dance and entertainment industries, her talents encompass choreography, artistic direction, costume & makeup design, event curating, mentorship, public speaking, and women’s empowerment. without objectification. She has been showcased on many of the entertainment industry's leading television platforms (Harry Connick Jr., Wendy Williams, So You Think You Can Dance?, and has worked with top pop artists, Madonna, Jody Watley, and Icona Pop). Lockerooo’s productions have featured across the world; including Lincoln Center, Summerstage, Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, "SAP Next-Gen", and NYC Pride.

As an ambassador of the 70’s LGBTQ dance style Waacking and catalyst of the global resurgence of the dance, Lockerooo carries the title “The Queen Of Waacking” spreading the dance to over 26 countries across the globe. She brought Waacking back into the spotlight in her unforgettable feature on season 8 of So You Think You Can Dance? where she received a ticket to Vegas and praise from all three judges including Mary Murphy [Nigel Lythgoe]]. As an influencer and educator, her mission is inspiring self-empowerment. She uses Waacking as a tool to encourage self-love and invoke confidence within her students. A philanthropist and activist for LGBTQ rights, she has raised money for LGBTQ organizations such asBroadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the Center, and GMHC, honoring the legacy and history of Waacking.

In 2013, Lockerooo appeared as an actor/dancer in the Marc Klasfeld directed music video for Icona Pop's hit record All Night, from their international debut album  This Is… Icona Pop The music video featured iconic Voguers such as Leiomy Maldonado, Jose Gutierez Xtravaganza, "Dashaun Wesley" and "Javier Ninja", and is based on the iconic documentary Paris Is Burning. In 2013 Princess Lockerooo founded one of NYC’s premier dance festivals, "Waack To the Future", widely recognized as one of the most eminent dance events on the international stage, celebrating the LGBTQ dance styles Waacking & Voguing. In 2018 Lockerooo choreographed a Waacking routine to Janet Jackson’s hit song Made For Now, which was performed by the Brooklyn Nets Kids at the Barclays Center. That year she also brought Waacking to Women's Entrepreneurship Day. She wowed the crowd with a waacking routine to Whitney Houston’s I’m Every Woman. Lockerooo made her public speaking debut in 2018 at “Music X Impact at SAP Next-Gen, where she demonstrated the power of Waacking and spoke about how she overcame depression through dance. Beginning another entrepreneurial endeavor, in 2018 Princess Lockerooo created the world's number 1 online Waacking training program, which can teach Waacking technique from absolute beginner to intermediate level.

We The Planet
July 2020, alongside Jennifer Frommer of Sony Music, Samara shared a fireside chat about social justice through entertainment at We The Planet, a global movement for intergenerational impact, uniting youth and elders in action to make the impossible possible and transform our world as we the planet.

New York City Dance Parade
As Grand Marshal of Dance parade 2020, princess Lockerooo created the first-ever digital flash mob for equality featuring Waack Dancers from 23 countries across the globe, showing that though we are physically distanced, we can still dance together.

HATCH
In 2019, princess Lockerooo was a featured speaker, performer, and teaching artist at Hatch Montana. Hatch is a non-profit ecosystem that consists of two annual Summits, year-round mentorship programs, and a global network that connects to accelerate solutions for positive impact. Princess Lockerooo led a workshop and gave a talk about the history of Waacking and the importance of connecting to one's inner superhero.

World Pride Opening Ceremony
On June 26, 2019, Princess Lockerooo performed alongside RuPaul’s Drag Race star Yvie Oddly and the cast of "Oscar At The Crown" at the World Pride Opening Ceremony at the Barclays Center featuring Whoopi Goldberg, Cyndi Lauper, Chaka Khan, Ciara, Todrick Hall, And "DJ Lina"

Oscar At the Crown (Off-Broadway)
2018-2019 princess Lockerooo performed the role of EXILE in the queer hit musical about Oscar Wilde, "Oscar At The Crown", created by "Mark Mauriello" and "Andrew Barret Cox". The show has been described as “a modern version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show through Lady Gaga’s eyes”. It is an immersive glitter soaked spectacle, laced with Waacking and Vogue choreography. Princess Lockerooo was named Waacking Choreography Consultant for her expertise in the style.

Waack To The Future
Waack To The Future is a dazzling, multicultural celebration, which takes place annually in the heart of Bushwick at House Of Yes It’s a dance battle: A platform where some of the greatest dancers in the industry contest in an all or nothing dance showdown. As well as featuring a star-studded cast of NY’s top choreographers and top tier dance industry judges; Waack To The Future hosts include Drag heroes such as Monet X Change and Bob The Drag Queen -- who are now stars and victor of RuPaul's Drag Race. celebrating, creativity, self-empowerment & gender equality. In honor of the memory of the Waacking originators who did not live to see their legacy, a portion of proceeds from Waack To the Future is donated to LGBTQ organizations Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and The Center.

Refinery 29
In 2018, Princess Lockerooo MC’d the "House Of Yes"’s Inner beauty Ball at "29 Rooms". She encouraged party-goers to put their phones away and connect with one another on the dance floor.

Harry Connick Jr. Show
Princess Lockerooo was a featured performer and guest on the show’s segment Harry Tries. Princess Lockerooo performed a Waacking routine to music created by her fiance Harold O’neal and taught Harry how to Waack.

New York City Pride 2016 Teaze at Pier 26
June 25, 2016, Princess Lockerooo produced a 15 min Vogue & Waacking extravaganza for the Pride Rally in NYC. The event featured prominent figures in the LGBTQ community such as Todrick Hall and Bob The Drag Queen

“So You Think You Can Dance?”
In 2011 Princess Lockerooo made her television debut on Season 8 of SYTYCD. Her performance of her iconic dance solo “The Spy” blew the judges away and resulted in a global increase of awareness & enthusiasm for Waacking.

Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project, Dance for Madonna
In 2012, Princess Lockerooo performed with Madonna, and many other notable dancers like Lil Buck for the "Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project's worldwide dance competition for a spot on Madonna's Tour.

Madonna Superbowl
In 2012 princess Lockerooo worked alongside Rich and Tone Talauega, where she choreographed and taught the routine for Madonna’s Superbowl Audition in NYC. She was brought into the project for her expertise in Waacking and proficiency in Voguing.

America’s Got Talent
In 2008, on season 3 of AGT Princess Lockerooo performed in "Flambeaux Fire"’s Fire Extravaganza, where she danced with her hand on fire and sang operatic vocals while sporting massive wings of Fire. She received praise by veteran judge Sharon Osbourn stating “The young lady should be Flambex!”

Tours

 * Eleganza Waacking Festival | Milan (2019)
 * Wake Up | Osaka, Japan (2019)
 * World Dance Colosseum (WDC) | Japan (2019)
 * Just Dance | Argentina (2019)
 * The Week | Italy (2018)
 * Supernova | Taiwan (2018)
 * Black Label Company | Madrid, Spain (2018)
 * Studio One More | Guangzhou, China (2018)
 * KOD | China (2018)
 * MC Hip Hop Contest | Riccione, Italy (2018)
 * UDA Urban Dance Academy | Italy (2018)
 * Groovies | Genova, Italy (2018)
 * Holiday In Waacking | Korea (2017)
 * Hot Mess | Canada- (2017)
 * Queen Of Disco / Speed  | Guangzhou   (2017)
 * Swag Out Singapore | Singapore (2016)
 * Waackapow | Taiwan (2016)
 * That’s Waack | Philippines (2016)
 * China Battle Championships | Xiamen, China - (2016)
 * Center Space | Portland OR (2016)
 * The Get Down | San Jose (2016)
 * City Dance | San Francisco (2016)
 * Funky Disco | San Francisco (2016)
 * Ny Dance Studio | Korea (2016)
 * Bronx Dance Studio v Korea (2016)
 * Dance For Life |  Korea (2016)
 * Sim Dance Studio v Malaysia (2016)
 * Merry Monarch | Taiwan (2016)
 * Spring Funky Summit | Almaty, Kazakhstan (2015)
 * 515 Dance Studio | Jinan, China (2015)
 * Wolf Dance Studio | Pan Jing, China (2015)
 * Urban Dance Stage | Xi An, China (2015)
 * Hip Hop Gang | Beijing, China (2015)
 * Soul Town Studios | Korea (2015)
 * NY Dance | Korea (2015)
 * Show Off | Vietnam (2014)
 * China Super Dancer | Beijing (2014)
 * Embrace Studio | Cheng Mai, Thailand (2014)
 * Queen Of Disco | Singapore (2014)
 * Waacking Aint Waack Hong Kong (2014)
 * Studio Danz - Hong Kong (2014)
 * Speed Dance Studio - Guangzhou, China (2014)
 * Dancers With No Boundaries - Florida (2014)
 * Dance Battle Greece 2014
 * Millennium Dance Studio | LA (2013)
 * SDI - Poland - (2013)
 * Thailand - (2013)
 * Taiwan (2013)
 * Studio Ash - Osaka (2013)
 * Merry monarch - Taiwan - (2013)
 * MC Hip Hop Contest | Riccione, Italy (2013)
 * PLW Battle | Tokyo (2013)
 * TV Tokyo | Japan (2013)
 * Relax Studio | Astana, Kazakhstan (2012)
 * SDK - Czech Republic (2012)
 * OPEN DANCE CONNECT - Tomsk, Siberia (2012)
 * RED HOT THE QUEEN - Hong Kong (2012)
 * Royal Phantom Studio - KL, Malaysia (2012)
 * TV show BANGKOK (2012)
 * Dance Mania - Bangkok, Thailand (2012)
 * United Dance | St. PetersBurg, Russia (2012)
 * Billboard Live Jody Watley Tour | Japan (2011)
 * IDA Hollywood | LA (2011)
 * Millenium Dance Complex - LA (2011)
 * Debby Renolds LA, (2011)
 * Fools For Funk - Teatro Golden - Italy (2011)
 * Helsinki, Finland
 * Bam Bam Boogies in Chelmsford, UK (2011)
 * Uchena Dance company, Essex UK(2011)
 * Urban Groove Studio - KL, Malaysia (2011)
 * Youth School of Hip Hop - Hong Kong (2011)
 * Fitness Brazil International - Brazil (2011)
 * Casa De Danca - Brazil (2011)
 * Dance 2x’s - Bangkok (2011)
 * Queen Of Disco | Singapore (2011)
 * Merry Monarch - Taiwan (2011)
 * Dance Union - Taiwan (2011)
 * Luxy - Taiwan (2011)
 * Dance Studio HRC Dance Studioz Taiwan - Taiwan (2011)
 * Civitanova Danza - Alcona - italy - (2010)