User:Shawn "AXI" Welling

Shawn Welling born in Houston, Texas (December 12,1964) is an American Choreographer, Photographer, Dancer, Actor and filmaker. Creator and Director of AXI (Avenger of Xtreme Illusions), Planet Funk Academy and feature film director. Awarded Best Director of 2011 and Best Film of 2009 by Houston Press.

Shawn started his career by performing and choreographing for the NBA World Championship games for the Houston Rockets in 1994 and continued with NFL & NHL half-time shows, concert openings, stage productions, music videos, over 60 television appearances including Oprah Winfrey, Deborah Duncan, Good Morning America, plus conducting dance master classes throughout the United States.

Choerography/Dance

Planet Funk began in 1989 Planet Funk Academy.. Shawn has choreographed and performed in Off-Broadway Theater for over a decade and is most well known for his rendition as Scrooge in 2005 and Dr. Suess in 2009 at the Wortham and Hobby Center.ELC In 2007 his Off-Broadway show ELC toured over 52 cities nation-wide and in 2009 performed 8,000 miles from home in the beautiful city of Doha, Qatar located on the Persian Gulf. Performance highlights include Cirque du Soleil (Dralion Tour) - in which Shawn and his company, Planet Funk, performed on Good Morning America, on which Diane Sawyer heralded Planet Funk as "legendary." Shawn has also co-hosted 2 ABC dance specials (one submitted for an Emmy) with Deborah Duncan. Shawn has produced a variety of successful master classes for the Disney Lion King dancers, the cast of the Broadway hit "Oliver", well-known MTV star Wade Robson, Brian Friedman, I.aM.mE, Les Twins and many more.

Filmography

Shawn directed his first film "House of Dreams" which won a Gold and Platinum Remi at WorldFest - Houston International Film Festival as director for Best Docu-Drama. His second film "The Messenger" was released at Landmark, AMC, and Angelika theaters to sold out screenings. It was awarded   Best Feature Film of 2009 by Houston Press. Welling premiered his third feature film based on a true story entitled “Project Aether.” This Sci-Fi/Suspense/Thriller earned numerous awards including Houston Film Critic’s Society's Best Actress (Joy Willard), the coveted Young Performer's Award (Marissa Lee) and Houston Film Critic’s Society's director award for Best World Premiere and Best Director of 2011 by Houston Press.