EP 216- The Man Behind LaDuca Shoes- Phil LaDuca Is Here To Talk Dance, Broadway, & More!
Internationally acclaimed Shoe Designer, Broadway Performer/Choreographer/Master Class Dance Teacher Phil LaDuca has performed with, choreographed, sang, danced with, or designed for every major star in the industry for over the last forty years.
The most recognized name in dance shoes is LaDuca. But before the shoes, there was Phil LaDuca, the performer, who went from classical ballet and contemporary dance, onto Broadway as a song and dance man, to ‘hoofing’ with the biggest stars onstage, offstage and the big screen.
Phil began his early stage career singing in rock bands in Chicago before switching gears to a dance career studying classical ballet with the premier ballet masters, Bentley Stone and Walter Camryn, jazz with Lou Conte founder of Hubbard Street Dance Company, and contemporary with the Joel Hall Dancers.
On Broadway he appeared in “Brigadoon” for Agnes DeMille as a lead sword dancer (along side Jerry Mitchell), the “Pirates of Penzance” with Kevin Kline for Graciela Daniele and was the original understudy for the Gene Kelly role in “Singin’ In the Rain”for Twyla Tharp. Phil also toured in “Camelot” with Richard Harris, along with staring on tour in the lead role, of Bill Snibson in “Me and My Girl”.
While in New York Phil first performed with American Dance Machine under the legendary Lee Theodore, working with such greats as Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins, Ona White, Danny Daniels, Patricia Birch, Anne Reinking, Wayne Cilento and Chita Rivera.
Later he began choreographing, directing and teaching master classes ‘around the world” –; choreographing jazz pieces in Amsterdam (with Mia Michaels), in Russia where he was dubbed the ‘Godfather of Jazz’ - the first American jazz dance teacher in St. Petersburg, Russia *where in his honor they have opened up the “Phil LaDuca Broadway Dance Center”, as well as choreographing several pieces in Vienna for the Wien Opern Haus.
Fulfilling another creative side, Phil created the international acclaimed LaDuca Shoes, crowned the “Shoemaker to the Stars”; designing shoes for the likes of Katy Perry, Meryl Streep, Taylor Swift, Emma Thompson, Hugh Jackman, Catherine Zeta Jones, Lea Salonga, Pink, Shania Twain, Penelope Cruz, Selena Gomez , Christina Aguilera, and most of the shows on Broadway and tour; Moulin Rouge, The Music Man, Wicked, Book of Mormon, Frozen, King Kong, The Cher Musical, Bandstand, An American in Paris, Kinky Boots, Matilda, Pippin, Sister Act, Annie, Anastasia, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Aladdin; TV – Fosse/Verdon, Hairspray Live, So You Think You Can Dance, SMASH; Movies – The Eternals, The Prom, The Greatest Showman, La La Land, Chicago, Burlesque, NINE, Mamma Mia, Julie/Julia, Hail Caesar, working with such stars as Meryl Streep, Catherine Zeta Jones, Liza Minnelli, Cher, Arianna Grande, Antonio Banderas, Bette Midler, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Hudson, Sophia Loren, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Judith Dench, Glen Close, and Tatum Channing to name a few.
Along with being the first, “Shoe commentator’ for Miss America in 2015, Phil is most proud of being bestowed a Drama Desk Award 2017 for, “Proving that character comes from the ground up, the designer’s innovative flexible dance shoes ensures that hoofers on any stage remain on point”. He was the 2024 Vanguard Winner at the Chita Awards!
Mr. LaDuca continues to design but still finds time to teach Master Theatre Jazz Dance classes.
For More Info: www.LaDucaShoes.com
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