YoungArts Salon Series with Charles “Lil Buck” Riley

Photography by Tyler Loy on January 24th, 2015 in Culture, Editorials

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Miami, FL – January 20, 2015 – Whether he’s out on tour performing as a backup dancer for music icon Madonna, or strutting his stuff through Cirque du Soleil’s hit show Michael Jackson: One, Charles “Lil Buck” Riley is a force to be reckoned with with and is taking the dance world by storm. After teaching a YoungArts MasterClass earlier in the day, dancer and self-titled “ambassador” of Jookin, Charles “Lil Buck” Riley joined the National YoungArts Foundation for the sixth YoungArts Salon featuring a conversation and presentation of his new work on the YoungArts Campus in Miami. “As a young artist myself, I was excited to participate in this Salon, and share my experiences with the next generation of young artists and arts supporters,” says Lil Buck. Lil Buck has performed in the New York City Ballet’s 2014 Spring premiere, and has worked with Spike Jonze, Yo-Yo Ma, Janelle Monáe and Damian Woetzel. He was also the recipient of a 2014 Wall Street Journal Magazine Innovator Award. The Salon was moderated by Rudi Goblen, a Miami-based writer, dancer, and actor, and sponsored by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Attendees included National YoungArts Foundation President & CEO Paul T. Lehr, Bruce Weber and Nan Bush, Yolanda Berkowitz, Lisa and Jeffrey Akin, and Mario Cader-Frech to name a few.

While growing up in Memphis, Lil Buck was introduced to an urban street dance style called “Memphis Jookin.” Always having a passion to dance, Lil Buck became a well-known local dancer and became involved in groups such as “Subculture Royalty,” Ladell Beamons “Heal The Hood” and also studied ballet at “New Ballet Ensemble.” After connecting with a local rapper/producer, Young Jai of Jai Productions, he appeared in several videos dancing that were featured on Youtube. Buck also was the “Breakout Star” of Jai Productions locally produced Jookin DVD series called Memphis Jookin Vol.1, 2 and more. Like many dancers in the internet era, Buck was discovered on Youtube and shortly after was moved to L.A. where he saw the possibilities to pursue a career in dance. Since then, the sky has been the limit. He’s worked on projects with Janelle Monáe, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, performed with Madonna during her Super Bowl XLVI halftime show and later joined her MDNA Tour. Lil Buck was also paired with famous Cellist Yo-Yo Ma in “The Dying Swan” performance that went viral on YouTube after director Spike Jonze used his cell phone to record an interpretive performance. Now featured in multiple commercials, movie and television show cameos, music videos, Cirque du Soleil show “Michael Jackson: One” show and a tour with the Queen herself “M” under his belt, Buck is holding strong on his roller coaster of life. He is now in the process of working on his own show and scheduled all over the place showing his skills to the world.

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