In just six minutes at seven years old, Zuri Noelle Ford established her natural gift of dance. She reminisced over an old home video her parents still had of her, dancing the Macarena, straight-faced and moving to the lyrics on each turn and hand movement. She recalls her parents saying, “This is the moment we knew you were gonna be doing this for real.”
While living in Lithonia amongst both a supportive and talented family of creatives, Ford attended the DeKalb School of the Arts from Kindergarten to her Senior Year, building more than a decade’s worth of experience for her portfolio in preparation for her studies at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts. “Learning dance at a collegiate level is very different… College made me grow as an artist, and understand that being a dancer is a lot more than what I thought it was.”
When asked about inspirations, Ford gushed over her childhood obsession with Michael Jackson, specifically the iconic choreography in his Remember the Time music video. “He’s not just like a pop singer that can dance… this is low-key giving dancer first,” she complimented between laughs.
While Ford initially set her sights on joining a dance company, she had not yet dreamed she’d be involved in musical theatre. As a swing dancer in an ensemble cast, Ford must always be ready to step in for any performance at a moment's notice. She has diligently memorized three distinct choreographed routines as a member of the ensemble cast for their upcoming tour. “I’m always thinking about the show… and I’ve had to work harder than I ever have in my entire life.”
Ford has already begun the first national tour for MJ: The Musical at the start of August. The tour will be making a stop in Atlanta in October at the Fox Theatre.